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Opponents of Seattle‘s $2 billion highway tunnel project are hoping enough people vote ‘no’ on an Aug. 16 referendum that politicians will rethink the project.

The entire project, which entails replacing the raised Alaskan Way Viaduct on State Route 99 with an underground tunnel, will cost a total of $3.1 billion. But the tunnel portion of the project has been the hot-button issue almost since the highway was damaged by the Nisqually earthquake in 2001.

A ‘no’ on the referendum , as the Seattle Times reports. But tunnel opponents hope it will send a message to politicians  (a “we won’t reelect you” message). Opponents say the tunnel is too expensive and it will prompt more cars to . From the Seattle Times:

If we can’t afford the tunnel and it doesn’t work (to move traffic) and Seattle doesn’t even want it, that changes the calculus,” said Esther Handy, campaign manager for Protect Seattle Now, which put Referendum 1 on the ballot.

How long has Seattle been arguing about this project? Oh right, 10 years.