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Retired civil engineer proposes undersea tunnel for Mukilteo/Clinton route

A retired civil engineer from Seattle is proposing a new way for people to travel from Mukilteo to Clinton that doesn’t involve the ferry.

“You need a different mindset,” Bob Ortblad said.

Ortblad is a retired civil engineer and teaches a University of Washington class on the history of infrastructure.

He is proposing an underwater tunnel system as an alternative to the state’s ferries.

“It’s an idea that’s radical here. But not radical in other parts of the world at all,” Ortblad said.

It was almost 30 years ago, Ortblad visited Japan with his family and took his first undersea tunnel. But the idea really sparked in 2017 during a trip to Iceland when he drove through one.

“I thought well, this is super. No ferry line,” he said.

Over the years, he’s crunched the numbers and came up with a proposal for a 4 mile long underwater tunnel from Mukilteo to Clinton, about 600 feet below sea level with a 6 percent grade. He said it would cost the state $200 million with drivers covering the cost with a toll.

But the big question - one that Ortblad doesn’t know - is whether it’s geologically feasible.

“Geology under Puget sound is glacial. Glacial till which may be better or worse. You’d have to do some drilling and may be even do a pilot tunnel through to find out. But if you don’t look you don’t know,” Ortblad explained.

“I think it is very big project. And it could be doable but it really needs a lot of vetting,” said State Representative Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor).

Paul is on the transportation committee.

“I represent Whidbey island. I am not hearing a lot of support for the tunnel from my constituents,” he added.

Paul said he’s not ready to champion the proposal and ask for a study on the geologic feasibility of tunneling under Puget Sound.

Ortblad, 74, hopes to see some movement on this in his lifetime.

“Hopefully they’ve got a little urgency. I’m up there in age. But I’d like to see it at least studied,” Ortblad said.