Capitol Closed After Quake

Earthquake damage to the state Capitol is more severe than initially thought, and inspectors have determined that the building is uninhabitable, officials said Saturday.

Inspectors discovered that Wednesday’s 6.8-magnitude quake shifted some of the massive columns that support one of the world’s largest domes in the 1928 building, which survived two previous earthquakes.

“It looks like there has been some movement at the top of the columns that are supporting some of the load,” said Marsha Tadano Long, general administration director. “We hadn’t seen the shifting before now.”

Immediately after the quake, two cracks were visible in the heavy sandstone Capitol dome.

Members of the Legislature will work Monday in nearby buildings that have been cleared for reentry, legislative spokesman Greg Lane said. Gov. Gary Locke and other officials also are setting up temporary quarters in the Capitol campus overlooking Puget Sound.

Officials said it is not clear how long it will take to get the building back in shape for occupancy, or how much it will cost.

The Capitol was “earthquake-proofed” in 1965 and 1972 and the Legislature had been discussing another round of seismic retrofitting--at a cost of $6.6 million--before Wednesday’s temblor.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have said the government may pay 75% of the repair costs to the quake-damaged government buildings.

Olympia, just 11 miles from the quake’s epicenter, was hardest hit by the state’s worst quake in 52 years. Scientists say the temblor’s 33-mile depth prevented worse damage.

Dozens of buildings, including one of Olympia’s major hotels and the public library, remained closed. Crews cleaned up rubble that had blocked sidewalks and streets.

All major roads were open and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was returning to normal operations. Air traffic controllers operated out of a portable tower because the earthquake shattered virtually all the glass in their usual work space.

Arrivals Wednesday were about 50% of normal but by Friday they were up to 75%. “We hope we get capacity back to 80% operation,” Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said.

Kenitzer said FAA officials should know within a few days how long it will take to repair the permanent tower. It was estimated earlier at six to eight weeks.