The South Park Bridge will close permanently today at 7 PM, the victim of age and deterioration. The South Park community will hold a "Wake" today at 14th and Cloverdale beginning at 6:00 PM. with live music and a toast to the bridge.

It is looking more likely almost by the day that it wiil be replaced, with major sources of funding for a new bridge coming from the State of Washington to King County to the Transportation Improvement Board.

The Transportation Improvement Board plays a key role in providing state grants to support local transportation projects. The total funding package for the South Park Bridge is now $80 million or more than half the $140 million needed to build the replacement.

At the wake there will be a moment of silence, a toast and bagpipes will play as the leaves of the bridge are raised for the last time.

For more details on the bridge and its impact on the South Park community see our previous coverage.

The Wake Schedule:

6:00 Event Begins!

6:30-6:45 Duwamish Tribal Drums will cross the bridge (Preceded or followed by residents and friends of the bridge)

6:59- 7:00 Moment of silence; The raising of the glass (farewell, friend, farewell)

7:00- 7:20 Bag-Pipers pipe for the final raising of the leaves

7:30- 8:00 New Orleans Funeral Band (Pony Boy Antiphonal Street Band)

8:00- 8:30 Latino Roots/folk band (Trio Lucero del Norte)

8:30-9:30: Baby Gramps Blues