"South Park Bridge: Replacement 50 percent paid for"

Photo from West Seattle Blog

seattlepi.com:

South Park residents are planning a wake for next Wednesday when King County officials declare their namesake bridge dead. That's when the 79-year-old span's leaves will be lifted for the last time - severing a major freight link and connection for residents and businesses in the working class neighborhood.

But news came Wednesday that gave the community reason for hope. After a week in which the City of Seattle, King County, and the Port of Seattle promised to scrape together some $50 million toward building a new bridge, a pledge of $20 million more came from Gov. Chris Gregoire.

That adds up to $70 million toward the total $130 million King County needs to build a replacement. With that, the project is well positioned for federal grant money that could finally get construction started after years of inertia.

"We can and we will replace the South Park Bridge," County Executive Dow Constantine said during a news conference at the site where the future bridge will land along the Duwamish River. MORE...