ORIGINAL 12:59 PM REPORT: Our partners at the Seattle Times say $20 million is the approximate amount that Governor Gregoire is getting ready to pledge to a new South Park Bridge, when she joins other local leaders, including King County Executive Dow Constantine, at the bridge at 3 pm. Other major contributions so far are $31 million from the county, $15 million from the Seattle City Council, and $5 million from the Port of Seattle – that still adds up to only a little more than half the replacement bridge’s cost. (The current, crumbling one shuts down for good one week from tonight.) We’ll report the official announcement as soon as it’s made. 2:58 PM: Confirmed, $20 million. Media event starting shortly. 4:48 PM: Added photo of KC Executive Constantine at the podium, with the regional team of bridge-funding partners behind him (plus South Park community leaders). No surprises at the media event. The state’s $20 million contribution brings the total funding now in hand to $70 million, more than half the $130 million projected cost of building a new bridge. One more number was thrown out – $337 million, an estimate of how much money will be lost in general, to the economy, local and regional, while the bridge is closed. We’ll be adding some video shortly; meanwhile, you can read the county news release in its entirety by going here. 5:44 PM: The entirety of the governor’s announcement – if you have to fast forward, check out her economic comparison toward the end:
West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
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