Challenge
The South Park Bridge in King County, Washington was originally built in 1931 and served as a critical connection between the community of South Park and nearby Seattle. The King County Department of Transportation (DOT) closed the bridge in June 2010 due to severe deterioration and earthquake vulnerability, resulting in community impacts such as additional traffic, longer travel times, and limited access to jobs. The bridge was one of three connections over the Duwamish River, and its closing separated the South Park community, an environmental justice community with a predominantly Hispanic population, from critical amenities and resources. The bridge had also provided vital freight transport links to the entire region; 20 percent of its traffic was comprised of light freight vehicles. King County DOT had to address the needs of the South Park community in planning the bridge replacement, as well as those of the tribes that use the Duwamish River for fishing and other cultural activities.
Solution
Because of the age and condition of the original South Park Bridge, King County DOT staff began public outreach in 1994 to evaluate the feasibility of a reconstruction project. Agency staff explored the idea of building an adjacent bridge to maintain access while the new bridge was built and began a renewed effort to analyze options and conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project in 2004. In order to solicit public input throughout the EIS process, King County DOT empaneled a Citizen’s Advisory Group to represent the area’s interests. However, the DOT did not have funding for the project, and the structure’s deteriorating condition required the agency to close the South Park Bridge before it was able to begin the replacement project.
King County DOT applied for the first round of the USDOT Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program, but did not receive funding. In preparing to reapply the following year, King County DOT understood that it would need to secure funding from a wider group of partners and demonstrate not only broad regional support for the project, but also the impact to the region of losing the bridge. The King County Executive, Dow Constantine, worked with the Governor’s office and Washington State DOT to allocate Federal bridge funds to the project, helping to catalyze additional funding commitments. South Park residents were very committed to securing funding for a new bridge and began a community-organized letter writing campaign to gain support from other stakeholders. King County DOT was able to secure approximately $100 million from local funding partners. King County DOT received $34 million from TIGER II, part of $69 million in Federal funding for the South Park Bridge replacement.
South Park Bridge Funding Pledges
Specific geographic challenges complicated the planning and construction for the South Park Bridge. King County DOT had to conform to stringent water treatment and discharge regulations because the Duwamish River also included an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site. The agency also had to address the river’s importance to tribal fishing communities and ensure construction would not disrupt tribal activities.
The new South Park Bridge opened in June 2014, with a wider span that now includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Though the old bridge was also a drawbridge, the new model has a faster operating cycle, which allows it to open and close for boat traffic in approximately six minutes, compared to 20 minutes for the old bridge. Additionally, the bridge utilizes a net metering system, which is able to recapture some of the electricity spent by the system when it is lowered, reducing total electricity costs by 75 percent of that of the old bridge.
The community and various stakeholders have transformed the area surrounding the bridge with new artistic elements. They also constructed a rain garden underneath the bridge which serves as not only a community park but also a natural rainwater filtration system. Local businesses that were struggling when the bridge was closed are now flourishing, and new residents are attracted to moving to the area because of the increased accessibility to amenities such as grocery stores and a heavily-frequented community medical center.
Conclusion
The South Park Bridge replacement project restored a critical road connection and renewed the surrounding community’s ability to access the resources necessary to carry out their daily tasks of living. Strong community involvement and broad funding commitment contributed heavily to the success of the project. By engaging the surrounding community and taking a strategic approach to securing Federal funding through the TIGER II competitive grant program, King County DOT and its partnering stakeholders were able to maintain the look and feel of the original bridge while bringing increased functionality and new features to the South Park community.
