MONDAY: Mayor’s online West Seattle Bridge ‘Town Hall’

(SDOT photo – mayor inside West Seattle Bridge work zone last Monday)

Reminder – as announced back on Thursday, Mayor Jenny Durkan is hosting another “Town Hall” about the West Seattle Bridge tomorrow night, before making her repair-vs.-replace decision (most-recent timeline for that: “soon”). The mayor’s office summarizes the event this way: “The West Seattle Bridge Town Hall will give residents a chance to hear from the Mayor and key department staff about recently completed work to stabilize the bridge and reduce the traffic impacts of the closure as well as give an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.” It’s planned for 5-6:30 pm Monday (November 16th), online – you can RSVP here and send an advance question; the link for attending is here.

15 Replies to "MONDAY: Mayor's online West Seattle Bridge 'Town Hall'"

  • dsa November 15, 2020 (11:42 pm)

    Stabilize which can become Repair seems to be adding a bit of weight to the bridge.

  • Derek November 16, 2020 (8:51 am)

    REPAIR! This traffic is ridiculous. The city needs to repair then rebuild new alongside. That’s the only way forward! 

  • DiverLaura November 16, 2020 (1:24 pm)

    I’ve also submitted the question but if I can not make it,  I’d love for them to give consideration to opening the lower bridge during daytime hours on the weekends.  For those of us caring for elderly family members, this has been a massive hit.   I now go over after 9p  multiple times a week and it would be amazing to be able to go over during the daytime hours on the weekend without having to add 30 min to our drive.  

  • sw November 16, 2020 (4:28 pm)

    I’ll have my popcorn ready.

  • flimflam November 16, 2020 (4:37 pm)

    lol good thing the mayor is on the seen with a hard hat!

    • flimflam November 16, 2020 (5:37 pm)

      doh! scene….

  • Ethan November 16, 2020 (5:38 pm)

    Watching the Town Hall live.Sam Zimbabwe says that ‘rapid replacement removes the uncertainty that we might need to close the bridge again’.I would like to ask Mr. Zimbabwe how much of his own money he would bet that a new bridge has 0% chance of having any issues. When the existing bridge was built brand new in the last century, I am sure the equivalent Zimbabwe of the time was also saying that the new bridge that there were building was a guarantee of stability and no issues. See how that turned out.

  • Mj November 16, 2020 (7:47 pm)

    I listened to the entire Town Hall meeting.  Sam’s claim the City properly maintained the bridge is false, Bearing 18 was found to be stuck a number of years ago and should have been fixed then.  He also said now that the Bearing has been fixed the bridge is reacting positively.  

    Regarding the stablelization the added tensioning and fixing Bearing 18 in essence is repair work.  Repairing the bridge is clearly the best option for WS and the region.  The $47 million cost is doable and needs to be done.  

    The City claimed to date no time has been lost, I disagree (not significant loss of time yet).  If the City prioritizes the bridge repair it could be open by next Fall if the Stablelization Contractor were to get started on the added strengthening of the bridge immediately.

    • Colonel Mustard's Wrench November 16, 2020 (10:14 pm)

      You are spot on MJ ! 
      SDOT is trying to cover up their failure to maintenance Bearing 18 in 2013. 
      Professionals in the industry will tell you at year 30, the bearings were to be maintenanced. 
      Obviously SDOT failed to do that. For them to claim that no time has been lost is absurd. 
      Do they think we’re ignorant ?  

  • D November 16, 2020 (8:01 pm)

    Did anyone see after the meeting ended when they “thought” the mics were off!?!? We need to send this to the media if so.  I only have the end of the video.  I am hopeful someone video taped the beginning ! 

    • WSB November 16, 2020 (8:11 pm)

      What did you see/hear? I just went back through the YouTube archive (which is an automatically instant turnaround on this kind of feed) and while the feed lingered a bit there’s no audio.

      • Dianne November 16, 2020 (8:24 pm)

        I have some video but not the most important part    Sam z stating he was “tired” from all the dancing around he had to do others complaint of aggressive questions -I am hopeful someone recorded the entirety the media should expose these guys all of whom are not taking this seriously and with their own agendas.   Very sad!!!!  Their expressions when they were told they were still live was priceless! Please come forward if anyone taped the beginning!!!!

  • Mj November 16, 2020 (10:11 pm)

    Dianne – interesting comment.  It was several months ago I heard Sam indicate with foundation stablelization of the columns and bridge repair 40 years of serviceable use could be achieved.  Tonight I heard him say the the Bridge is behaving properly after the stuck Bearing 18 was fixed.  Reading between the lines there is SDoT staff that know the bridge is repairable and are being told to take the 5th. 

    It’s time this farce is called out and get the repair of the bridge underway!

  • Colonel Mustard's Wrench November 16, 2020 (10:17 pm)

    Brace yourselves.   They will try to cram “Rapid Replace” down our throats.

  • RANDY November 17, 2020 (1:57 pm)

    THOUGHTS
    1- FUNNY HOW THE TUNNEL IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. Way back in March a very qualified engineer laid out a very cost effective and shorter time frame for a tunnel. AND he considered all the issues of traffic flow,
    2- If you give one company the power to decide. and that company can build a tunnel for half the cost and time then a brand new bridge. Considering the $$$$ and length of work for crews- what  option do you think they will support?
    3- Has anyone considered the weekly weight carried across by the ‘rebar’ laden trucks leaving NUCOR  STEEL?  I was told by an engineer-  These trucks can weigh an average of  88000LBS. Just maybe- that may have played into the weakening of the bridge.  Maybe by requiring NUCOR’s trucks to use the lower bridge might make sense. 
    4- Have the major move to WS.  then let us see what option appeals to her more. 

Sorry, comment time is over.