Tunnel hits tough going with council

GLENDALE — The City Council held a study session Tuesday to discuss a controversial proposed tunnel connecting Long Beach (710) Freeway to the Foothill (210) Freeway.

Councilman Ara Najarian, who is also a representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board, updated the council on the project, since a feasibility study on the extension will come before the board on Thursday. "Recently, members of the [authority] conducted a feasibility study to see if it would be possible to create this underground tunnel," Najarian said.

The feasibility study identified tunneling techniques and effects on neighbors.

The proposed tunneling is beginning to get political backing from neighboring cities.

"The folks in Alhambra have been saddled with a lot of street traffic due to the non-connectivity of that freeway, so they're very much interested in having a connection there, he said.

Interest in the tunnel connector is coming from other cities in the San Gabriel Valley, he said.

The tunnel was suggested in order to curtail the amount of traffic coming off of the 710 freeway, due in part to traffic from the Long Beach sea port, Najarian said.

A full environmental impact study on the issue would cost about $50 million, and if approved, the entire project would cost $6 billion, Najarian said. If it goes through, the project would not be fully completed until 2030, he said.

"I think we need to decide … what decision, if any, Glendale wants to take on this," he said. "The impact is simply going to be a ton of vehicular traffic, as well as diesel truck traffic, and those vehicles that are intending on traveling north are going to come right up our backdoor."

He mentioned that traffic from the tunnel would cut through the La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Pasadena areas.

Among council member concerns were how a potential increase in noise and air pollution could affect schools surrounding the proposed project.

Councilman Rafi Manoukian said he would be against the tunnel, as it could cause problems for those living around it.

"I will personally be opposing it," he said. "The noise issue on the 210 is a big issue. If this goes through and we have additional trucks going through there …. I can just imagine the havoc it could cause in the neighborhood. I think we should be proactive on this."