Press release:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is removing an outdated bridge on East Marginal Way South between South Hinds and South Horton streets in the industrial area of Seattle and replacing it with an asphalt roadway. Starting mid June, the bridge will be closed to all traffic, and a bypass route will be provided to the west, along Port of Seattle property. As a safety precaution, the speed limit on the bypass route will be reduced. The contractor working for SDOT expects to have the new surface road open to traffic by early September. (See a map with the bypass route.)

The contractor plans to begin work at the site on June 6, starting with the construction of the bypass route. The project is being coordinated with other nearby construction to reduce traffic disruptions as much as possible. (See the City of Seattle Web site for more information about the coordination.)

The East Marginal Way Bridge was built in 1931 to service Port of Seattle Terminal 25. Since that time the area under the bridge has been filled, so there is now land on which to build the roadway. The bridge must be replaced now because it is deteriorating rapidly and the work requires dry weather. By replacing the bridge with a surface roadway, SDOT will avoid the cost of maintaining the aging structure.

The bridge replacement project is funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation initiative. While the original construction estimate for the project was approximately $2 million, the successful bid, from Gary Merlino Construction Company, was $1.2 million, saving the city $800,000.

For background information, see the East Marginal Way Bridge project Web site.