West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
(Previous WSB reports: #1 “as it happened” here, #2 with video here, #3 with photos here)
As our area wakes up to its first day with one less bridge – for at least a few years – Christopher Boffoli‘s video shows you what it was like to be there last night. This morning, a night for the history books is followed by a morning facing the practicalities of how to get around; TV traffic reporters are offering advice, as well as traffic-camera images like this one. The official “closure plan” has resulted in maps of how to get around the area – if you didn’t check them out before, here’s where to find them. Getting to South Park itself remains relatively quick and easy from south West Seattle, and the area will be working to market itself as a destination – a promotional brochure is one of the early steps. Meantime, the search for money to build the replacement bridge continues, with $80 million pledged, of the $130 million needed; the next major step is application for a federal grant that could bring in more than half the remaining amount. And small steps toward the project continue so that it will be ready to go when funded – next Tuesday, for example, the county conducts a public hearing on “right-of-way realignments” (official notices here).
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
Around 8 o’clock Wednesday night, the South Park Bridge‘s final opening was also a severing of the physical tie to the other side of the Duwamish. “Half of Boeing came here for lunch,” Boeing employee Michael told WSB contributor Keri DeTore; Georgetown Community Council Chair Holly Krejci said: “Georgetown will miss the connection and solidarity with South Park.” SP resident John added, “Life just got a lot harder — we as a community can’t sustain these businesses. We have to make this (neighborhood) a destination — this is the best neighborhood I’ve ever lived in.”
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
But at least for the night, the concern about the years ahead without a bridge – even with funding for a new one starting to build up, it wouldn’t be done for at least three years – was eclipsed by the party atmosphere of the bridge wake, on the bridge and alongside it:
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Classic old transit buses were the final vehicles to cross. Earlier – perhaps in homage to the bridge’s age (70) – other classic vehicles were seen:
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
Meantime, more than a few elected officials came to South Park for the bridge sendoff, including Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, photographed talking with King County Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi:
(Photo by Keri DeTore)
The mayor told Keri: “We’ve worked to provide support to the local businesses and will work with the community. We have an interdepartmental team of police, fire, SDOT, neighborhood and economic groups to provide services to the broader community. We will do our share to work on the bridge replacement.” Similar vows have come from county elected officials like Councilmember Jan Drago, decked in a pink hat and pink boa – same color on the tulle that fluttered from the bridge as it went up:
(Photo by Tracy Record)
Though $80 million has been raised toward funding a new bridge, many are concerned about where the remaining $50 million will be found. South Park resident Betty had an idea: “Put single moms in charge of the funding — they’ll get it done!” Speaking of done, the end of bridge operations means the end of the line for bridge tenders here:
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
One last round of photos – this is a Flickr grouping from the occasional contributor we refer to as Junior Member of the Team – he was part of the five-member WSB team covering the historic occasion:
And we also have a shot to add from the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) bridge memorial – customers were invited to help build a bridge:
The Feedback, of course, created what was pretty much the official shirt of the wake – everywhere you turned, someone was wearing the distinctive white-on-black shirt (as you can see in many of our photos).
Ahead: A video collection of highlights, plus “what’s next” for the bridge-replacement project and its neighbors.
(Our “as-it-happened” first report on tonight’s South Park Bridge closure can be seen here)
At the end of our “as it happened” first report on tonight’s South Park Bridge shutdown and wake, we added a clip showing the bridge’s final few minutes, right around 8 pm – siren sounding, bells clanging, gates going down, drawbridge coming up, then a toast, and a song. Now, some other moments to share – first, the top clip, the chant that broke out after South Park’s Bill Pease, using the loudspeaker from a deputy’s car, suggested a moment of silence. (This was from the mildly defiant crowd that refused to move as far back as authorities asked them to – in the end, they “won,” and got to watch the drawbridge-opening from just behind the striped gates.) Meantime, the final vehicles to cross were long-retired buses, brought back out for the occasion – part of our team was at the south end of the bridge as the barricades were moved just long enough for one to head up:
Next, more of the sounds of farewell: Members of the Northwest Junior Pipe Band played toward the end, up near the bridge-tender tower on the west side:
Also performing as a tribute to the bridge … Duwamish Tribe drummers:
Still more to come – video and photos. Even if you don’t have any particular sentiment regarding the South Park Bridge, this was quite the spectacle.
Three and a half hours left till the South Park Bridge‘s permanent closure; we went down for a look, and found the barricades awaiting placement at 7 pm – also spotted (too quick for us to get a shot) people photographing the bridge, before its leaves open – and stay that way – till they are dismantled. As for how long they will sit in the upright position, we asked King County Department of Transportation, whose spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok says that right now, it looks like “late summer” before the drawbridge sections will be removed. (Demolition of the rest of the bridge is further into the future.) As noted in our preview earlier, South Park invites one and all to its wake – here’s the schedule of events. And even if you are driving in the area BEFORE 7 pm, note that some changes have taken effect – as Jim pointed out in a comment on our earlier story, “Watch your driving through the area. SDOT has already changed lane assignments as of Noon. You are going to be down one right turn lane off of E Marginal Way southbound. Also the right lane on Cloverdale is no longer a left turn lane, it is right turn only. This seems a little premature, and is bound to screw up the afternoon commute.”
They were a hit last year, and this summer, SDOT is sending weekend traffic alerts again. This coming weekend is particularly busy, so read on to see the full list (which we’ll also link to the WSB July 4th page), which includes mention of the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade (all welcome to participate!):Read More
(Photo courtesy King County Department of Transportation)
Less than four months’ time has gone by since South Park residents — and others who use the 14th Avenue South Bridge — started getting major, repeated, public warnings that King County would close the deteriorating old bridge permanently at 7 pm June 30th. (Here’s our report from the 1st major public meeting back on March 9th.) June 30th is here, and much has changed – while some of the fury over the closure turned to acceptance, much of the energy also has channeled into two drives: First, to make sure money would be found for a new bridge (as of last Friday, $80 million has now been committed toward the $130 million needed); second, to make sure that South Park’s businesses do not wither and die during the bridgeless time. Tonight’s “wake,” 6-10 pm, is partly meant to make a statement along the latter lines, so South Park is hoping that many will come to not only mark the end of their bridge’s life, but to see what they are like as a community, and how they plan to survive and thrive during a tougher-than-usual time. There are ceremonial events (including a final walk on the bridge) planned before 7 pm, with live art (muralists painting the bridge), live music, and restaurant specials during the evening as well (here’s the schedule).
(Photo by Dale Rowe, from April demonstration on the South Park Bridge)
If you’ve never been to South Park, one way to get there is to take Roxbury all the way east, and keep following as the road curves around and over Highway 509, then becomes Cloverdale S., the main east-west route, which ends in the business district at 14th (the bridge is a left turn/northbound from there). And/or you can mark the occasion right here in West Seattle – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is planning a South Park Bridge Wake starting at 6 (details on the FL home page, where you also can read about the bridge memorial T-shirts the Feedback’s been selling, so popular that South Park residents have made runs up here to procure more).
(County rendering of what the South Park end of the bridge will look like, right after the shutdown)
As for the practical aspects of the closure – at 7 pm, the barricades go up, and so do the bridge’s “leaves,” permanently. Demolition comes later. Three bus lines were rerouted as of 5 this morning. You can read about all that here. And on the emotional side – we wanted to share two links that have been brought to our attention: a South Park Bridge tender’s farewell, and memories from a couple who met on the bridge.
It was all smiles for the ceremonial shovel-turning that concluded the kickoff event for the Alaskan Way Viaduct South End (Holgate to King) project this afternoon – but in the round of speeches that preceded it, some sharp words over the “next” AWV project, the one to replace the elevated structure along the central waterfront. The event included a long line of mostly elected officials on stage, with dozens of union-banner-displaying workers and a few sign-wielding tunnel opponents.
Mayor Mike McGinn alluded to his tunnel concerns but went on to say he didn’t think this was the time and place to talk about them; nonetheless, those who took the podium right after him – including Tom Rasmussen, one of seven Seattle City Councilmembers onstage – promptly proclaimed their strong support for the tunnel. (Hear them both in this next clip, with state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond – filling in for Gov. Gregoire, who had a sudden trip to D.C. – inbetween:)
Shortly afterward, Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant (below) went so far as to say the process that resulted in the tunnel choice had included hundreds of meetings and thousands of public comments, so, he all but shouted, “Enough already! We cannot wait another day” to build the tunnel.
That project, however, is still at least a year-plus out; south end work starts now. More video and photos shortly; meantime, click ahead for the official news release sent by WSDOT afterward:Read More
(Screengrab from the interactive simulation – be sure to note the upper-right area to choose perspectives)
In advance of this afternoon’s Alaskan Way Viaduct South End Replacement Project groundbreaking ceremony, we asked WSDOT for the newest images – some of which were shown at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce briefing we covered last week. Even better, we just received this link to share – it’s a new simulation you can use to walk through the next three years of south end construction (this is the mile SOUTH of the proposed tunnel), step by step. (Background info – and more “survive the construction work” links – can be found here.)
(Photo courtesy Paul Dieter – showing Langdon Cook, who writes Fat of the Land, pulling in pink salmon)
According to King County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s office, a state commission the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board has just committed another $10 million to the new South Park Bridge – meaning $80 million of the $130 million needed. 5:20 PM UPDATE: More details now in an official county news release:Read More
In addition to the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure on Saturday because of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – 4 am to 4 pm northbound, 4 am to 1 pm southbound, Saturday only, according to WSDOT – the First Avenue South Bridge has closures this weekend too: It’ll be closed northbound from 5 am to 11 am both Saturday and Sunday for maintenance work.
(Photo by, and used with permission of, Paul Gordon)
Side note to our ongoing coverage of today’s announcement adding to the funding rounded up so far for a new South Park Bridge (see the latest details here): With one week to go till the old one is closed permanently: South Park residents have been planning a “wake” for shutdown night next Wednesday, and just sent the announcement with full details of what you’ll see if you head east to be part of the event:
The South Park community has organized a wake on Wednesday, June 30th from 6-10 pm to mark the closing of the South Park Bridge, the main thoroughfare over the Duwamish River into the South Park neighborhood. Unable to secure the necessary funding for replacement, King County deemed the severely deteriorated South Park Bridge as unsafe for the 20,000 vehicles that cross it daily.
Although the principal focus of the wake is to bemoan the loss of the bridge, South Park residents, including business owners, artists and musicians are stepping up to showcase the community’s diversity. The Duwamish Tribal drummers will cross the bridge in the minutes before its closure at 7 pm. Muralists from South Park Arts will be painting the bridge, “transforming the structure from defunct infrastructure into artistic force.” (South Park Arts website, www.southparkarts.org) Bagpipers will play during the final raising of the leaves, followed by music from a New Orleans Funeral Band, a Latino Roots/Folk band, and a Blues Band. South Park restaurants, like the popular Muy Macho, will be offering food specials, and local organizations will be tabling to showcase the variety of activities and services in the neighborhood.
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:
So far, it’s $30 million from King County, $15 million pledged by the Seattle City Council, and now comes word that the Port of Seattle is chipping in $5 million toward the cost of replacing the South Park Bridge, which closes permanently one week from tomorrow. The port’s announcement notes that it’s already contributed $500,000 worth of land for the bridge’s footings. So what will the state commit? We expect to find out tomorrow afternoon, as Governor Gregoire is expected to participate in an announcement at the bridge, discussing where things stand in the quest for the $120 million-plus that’s needed for a new SP Bridge.
(WSDOT’s “South Portal Design Concept” showing where South End Replacement would meet the tunnel)
Though ceremonial groundbreaking for the South End Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement is a week away, the project contract is actually on Day 8, according to WSDOT’s Matt Preedy, who is briefing the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce right now on what’s ahead for this major project. We’re at the briefing at the Senior Center of West Seattle, and are also expecting a city briefing afterward on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. Preedy says that on The Viaduct itself, you won’t see traffic effects this year – the first phases of work will be on the surface alongside, with street work in the Terminal 46 area, then the new bike/pedestrian path. One major note: On July 6, he says, the 150+ parking spaces under The Viaduct between Royal Brougham and Railroad will be fenced off and gone forever – that’ll be part of the construction zone. 1:07 PM UPDATE: Briefing over. Other key dates: From SDOT’s Paul Elliott, the new 4th Avenue offramp (aka “The Costco Offramp”) from the Spokane Street Viaduct is still on track to open in late summer, and there’s a tentative start date for the work to fuse it to the existing structure – which will close one eastbound lane for up to six weeks – July 7. Elliott also says the new westbound 1st Avenue on/offramp may open as soon as next summer. And he indicated the “voluntary” program for advance notice of “low bridge” vessel openings isn’t making much of a difference – they’re not getting much advance notice, and the number of openings seems to be only slightly reduced, if at all.
(Also a reminder, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed this Saturday for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – WSDOT now says the closure starts both ways at 4 am, reopening southbound by 1:15 pm, northbound by 4 pm.)
VIADUCT GROUNDBREAKING: The date’s set tonight for ceremonial groundbreaking on the project to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s southern mile: 2 pm Tuesday, June 29 (one week from tomorrow), at 1st Avenue South/Royal Brougham Way. This work is expected to last into late 2013. If you’ve still got questions about any or all of what’s in store for The Viaduct, the state reminds us they’ll have reps at West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) on July 9, 10, 11 in The Junction, for in-person Q/A.
SOUTH PARK BRIDGE MONEY: We reported last week that the King County Council would vote today on authority for issuing bonds to finance a $30 million contribution toward the construction of a replacement for the South Park Bridge, which will close permanently one week from Wednesday. Linda Robson from Councilmember Jan Drago‘s staff tells us the vote was unanimously in favor, 8-0; Drago herself was absent because of an out-of-state family emergency. Robson confirms that a media event is still in the works for Wednesday to discuss bridge funding – which so far includes this contribution and the $15 million Seattle City Council pledge as major components. A multi-contributor strategy is considered vital to the county’s chances of getting a federal grant; letters of intent for the grant are due in about four weeks.
Latest from SDOT on the SW Genesee paving project, which they announced last week would expand to four blocks:
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) paving crews have been preparing SW Genesee Street from 47th Avenue SW to 51st Avenue SW for resurfacing. They recently completed grinding off the old asphalt surface. Weather permitting, they plan to lay new asphalt on Wednesday, June 23, from approximately from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this work, traffic flaggers will assist traffic in both directions share a single lane.
Via Facebook, Robert noted that next Saturday’s Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon came up at West Seattle Runner during yesterday’s kickoff party for the Alki Beach 5K in August – and that it was the first he’d heard of next Saturday’s marathon closing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. So, it seems like time to start the reminders: Next Saturday (June 26), The Viaduct closes in both directions at 5 am. Southbound is supposed to reopen at 1;15, but northbound not till 4 pm. This is all according to the road closure plan on the marathon’s website (which includes other closures elsewhere in the metro area). Side note: What makes it Rock ‘n’ Roll is the live music promised “every mile,” by local musicians – here’s the list, which includes some acts you can see in The Junction during West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) in three weeks – Massy Ferguson and Kris Orlowski.
(Photo by, and used with permission of, Paul Gordon)
Speaking on KUOW Radio half an hour ago, South Park Neighborhood Association president Dagmar Cronn revealed she’d just gotten word of a 3 pm Wednesday event at the South Park Bridge with news of funding for a new one and high-ranking elected officials in attendance. That day will mark exactly one week prior to its permanent shutdown. Cronn told KUOW she’d gotten word from the county, so we checked with King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office, which confirms they’re working on a “progress report” event tentatively planned for Wednesday – though not confirming any details of what’ll be said, or who will be there. (As noted in our report on Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark‘s appearance at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council this past Wednesday, she said she expected news of a “double digit” state contribution soon; she was questioned about the council’s announcement this week that they would pledge $15 million. The total cost of a new bridge is estimated at more than $120 million.) 2:01 PM P.S.: County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s office points out that the proposal to raise $31 million for the bridge through bond sales is up for a full King County Council vote on Monday.
P.S. Not only is Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) planning a “South Park Bridge Memorial” on shutdown day, June 30th – now they’re selling T-shirts to benefit South Park’s Providence Regina House Clothing/Food Bank; the image is a little too raw to show here but click to see it on the Feedback’s home page.
If you hadn’t already seen this via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail, wanted to mention it before the commute home: The 1st Avenue South water-main repairs first mentioned yesterday are now scheduled to take until “late evening,” so the detour on Southbound 1st, between King and Railroad, is still in place – you’ll be detoured over to Alaskan Way. 4:18 PM: The city has sent another update:
Today crews have been able to keep one lane open for each direction of traffic on First Avenue South at South King Street. The estimated time to reopen the entire street is now approximately 11 a.m. tomorrow, June 18.
We first reported last week on the paving project between 47th and 49th on SW Genesee (map) – thanks to a WSB’er tip. The work was to be done today but got postponed because rain (which hasn’t shown up) was forecast. Now there’s word from SDOT they’re adding a couple more blocks:
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) paving crews have been resurfacing SW Genesee Street from 47th Avenue SW to 49th Avenue SW. They recently completed grinding the old asphalt surface on these two blocks.
Today the crews have been given the “go ahead” to add two additional blocks of Genesee Street to the project, from 49th Avenue SW to 51st Avenue SW. The crews now plan to grind the old surface off of the additional blocks Wednesday (tomorrow), Thursday, and possibly also on Friday. They plan to lay the new asphalt, weather permitting, on Monday and Tuesday, June 21 and 22. One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open.
Genesee Street was not on SDOT’s original list of paving for 2010, but cost savings by the department from other paving projects have enabled SDOT to pave the street this year.
(King County rendering of future replacement South Park Bridge)
The Seattle City Council says it’s ready to back words with action in expressing support for a new South Park Bridge – with the current one shutting down forever two weeks from tomorrow. They’ve just pledged $15 million. Read on for the announcement (and, added 1:49 pm – a response to our question, not addressed in news release, of “where’s the money coming from?”):Read More
(Additional details of Monday night’s meeting added 9:40 am Tuesday – scroll down)
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
About 40 attendees from Delridge and other West Seattle neighborhoods gathered at Delridge Community Center tonight to discuss Mayor Mike McGinn‘s Walk/Bike/Ride initiative – its goals and potential effects on the area.
Here’s how the initiative is described by the mayor’s office:
Walk/Bike/Ride is a multi-year initiative that supports projects and programs making walking, biking, and riding transit the easiest ways to get around in Seattle. It serves all people, regardless of age, income, ethnicity, or ability. It uses transportation investments to create quality places and reclaims our streets for communities.
It was the third of four community meetings around the city this month (Bitter Lake and South Beacon Hill happened earlier; Northgate is next week) at which organizers are seeking answers to the question: “What needs to change in your neighborhood in order to make walking, biking, and riding transit easy?”
Tonight’s event in the Delridge CC gym kicked off with an introduction from the mayor’s transportation policy analyst Rebecca Deehr, followed by a presentation from Barbara Gray from the Seattle Department of Transportation (above), and a lively Q&A session. Read More
An update from SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner on the SW Genesee paving plan between 47th and 49th SW: She says they’re now looking at next Tuesday, “weather permitting,” and the work will probably take all day. SDOT says traffic will be able to get through during the work.
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