11:30 AM PDT on Thursday, May 20, 2004

By BERNARD CHOI / KING 5 News

KING A computer graphic of the proposed Seattle Monorail.

SEATTLE - Serious allegations were aimed at the Seattle Monorail project Wednesday as a prominent engineering firm that was bidding to be one of the subcontractors decided to pull out, saying there are serious design flaws.

The engineering firm, Magnusson Klemencic, claims the Monorail plan, as it stands, could become the next Alaskan Way viaduct in terms of becoming a huge future problem for Seattle.

It’s not known if there was a political motivation behind the allegation, but the firm has a solid reputation, having helped build the Bank of America building, Safeco Field and the new Seattle public library opening this week, among others.

Magnusson said it was considering playing a part in the $1.7 billion Monorail project but decided to leave one of the teams because of "serious design flaws." In a press release, Magnusson said it had become increasingly concerned about the project and its shortcomings as a transportation project.

It went on to say “from an engineering standpoint, the Monorail is in danger of becoming our generation's Alaskan Way Viaduct, one that will have to be torn down by our children."

"We're happy to see folks with Mr. Magnusson's credibility and esteem come out publicly," said Glen Amster of the Monoral Recall group, which is petitioning to recall the entire Monorail project. For Amster and other opponents, this development is validation that Monorail opponents are not “just a bunch of crazies” who are written off by the Monorail folks.

A Monorail spokesperson declined an on-camera interview, saying the agency can't be expected to respond when no one knows the specifics of Magnusson's charges.

Magnusson said it was to be a subcontractor on Team Monorail, one of two teams bidding to build the project. But Team Monorail said Wednesday that Magnusson was never officially part of the team.

Magnusson said it had papers to prove that it was and will present them, plus the specific design flaws at a press conference Thursday.

If true, this wouldn't be a first. Kiewit Construction pulled out last month. It had been the major contractor for team Monorail.