Of all the conversations I have with Bremertonians, I’m having a hard time coming up with anything that sparks a reaction quite like the Bremerton tunnel does.

There is a story Thursday about the tunnel groundbreaking scheduled for Friday and the comments are lined up in bigger numbers than I might have expected a day after a holiday.

The print headline uses the term “big dig,” which one commenter referenced. That was the term used for a project in Boston estimated to cost $2.8 billion in 1985. That grew to $14.6 billion by 2006. Bremerton’s 959-foot version is estimated to cost $30.7 million now. Construction costs often rise during projects and are especially volatile now, so many don’t trust that the cost will be under $35 million.

The way U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, and Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman tell it, the two were walking near the ferry terminal when Dicks asked aloud if a tunnel could solve the problem of too many cars driven by people just wanting to get out of downtown tying up streets where people might want to stay and shop. Specifically, a tunnel would make things easier for people walking around downtown, proponents argued.

“It is fundamental to creating a pedestrian-friendly environment in downtown Bremerton,” said Gary Sexton, the city’s redevelopment projects administrator. “We have essentially two streets — one going in, one going out — used for pedestrians and vehicles. It is the same problem being faced by every urban waterfront city of how you recapture the waterfront streets that became parking lots or were dramatically widened to accommodate vehicles.”

Opponents argued for street overpasses and the like, saying there were cheaper options that would not cost as much. They lost, and many of them haven’t forgotten about it, evidenced by some of the comments at the end of Thursday’s story.

The project has its share of supporters, or at least people who think it’s a good idea. The Chamber supported it, though there were some on the board who were against it.

In an editorial board meeting among candidates to replace Wendy Priest on the Bremerton City Council, the candidates’ views reflected some of the ongoing discussion about the project.

Trent England said he thought the federal money being used for it may symbolize poor federal practices, but said if he would have been on the council at the time the idea was presented it, he would have supported it. He said the benefit is small compared to the price tag, but when the council was faced with accepting millions or nothing, millions is the right choice.

Carlos Jara, a downtown business owner, said he initially thought the tunnel was a waste of money. After years of walking to work, however, he has become a supporter.

Virginia Starr suggested getting a crossing guard or installing some lights to solve some of the immediate problems, then discussed why people want to get out of Bremerton so quickly.

Roy Runyon was not at the meeting, but was among those in 2005 who wanted the question to be put on the ballot. He said a majority of residents wanted that and didn’t get it, saying it’s an example of how the council didn’t listen. On the tunnel itself, he said it’s out of any opponent’s hands at this point.

Here’s where the Bainbridge Island connection comes in. When I first joined the Kitsap Sun in 2002, Bainbridge had just installed a roundabout at High School Road and Madison Avenue. During the debates leading up to its installation, critics of the idea were vocal and sizeable. The council opted for the roundabout anyway. By the time I got there, some of the people who were previously among the most critical had become some of the roundabout’s biggest supporters. During the three years I covered the island I often heard people say “I was wrong” about that.

Any chance that’s going to happen here?