News
Steve Shay
The South Park bridge went up, for the last time shortly after 7 pm on Wednesday June 30.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT.
SLIDESHOW: South Park Bridge "wake" pumps life into neighborhood on closing day
Bridge closed for good, new one may soon be on the horizon
Video
After 80 years of service, the last pedestrian, bicycle rider, and motor vehicle crossed the double-leaf bascule South Park Bridge bridge at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 30. A bittersweet neighborhood event coined a "wake" celebrated the closing, and while Mayor McGinn, Seattle Councilmembers Richard Conlin, Sally Clark, Tom Rassmussen, and other dignitaries attended, the bridge was the star of the show.
It seemed many in the crowd expressed a mixture of frustration and hope. The bridge was laid to rest, but with $80 million raised for a new bridge, there seemed a spark of optimism among politicians and neighborhood residents.
"I just thought it was important to be down here," said Mayor Mike McGinn, dressed in casual attire. "This bridge is a real loss to the community so I wanted to come down and be with them. There's a lot of movement on the funding and the city will do its share but there are still some hurdles to come so I hope we can put it together."
"In South Park they roll with it," said Councilmember Sally Clark. "It is kind of an appropriately cynical air to what is basically a bridge closing festival. They do it right. The momentum for funding is good and everybody's on the right song sheet so when we go to the Feds I think we're lined up better than we were for TIGER I (grant.)"
The city, county, and state will request a TIGER 2 Grant from the Federal Government in August to close the financial gap on the cost of a new bridge. They applied for a TIGER 1 Grant and were turned down at the beginning of the year.
"It is disappointing that the bridge is closing without a replacement ready, but tonight in the air there is really a positive community spirit and this whole observance is really organic for this community and this neighborhood," said State Senator Joe McDermott as he crossed the bridge just before it shut. "It feels good. I'm optimistic that in a very short period of time we'll know that we have all the money and be able to move forward."
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDE SHOW
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Comments
the propoganda machine at work
Suprising that the blog addressed all of the local democrats who came out, but said nothing about council candidate Diana Toledo who was down there with a large group of supporters.
Shameful that the Herald references Joe M at all considering he was partially responsible for the bridge closure. 10 years in the legislature and no money towards bridge repair??? And he has the nerve to say he's disappointed?
No Joe, it's South Park that is disappointed in you.
South Park Loves Diana Toledo
Slides 1 and 12 tell the story, South Park Loves Diana Toledo!
I loved her statement (carried by other blogs!) She hits the nail on the head!
“I spent some time in the neighborhood earlier this week; I talked to one business owner who has owned her business there for 30 years, and whose daughter had just recently opened a business nearby. This was just one of the heartbreaking stories of real people who honestly don’t know where they will be in 6 months. The small family business owner was hopeful the government would find the money they needed to replace the bridge, but wondered why the politicians waited so long to take action; when it’s been known for years that it needed to be replaced? Why some politicians voted against funding the repair or replacement bridge earlier was unexplainable giving the circumstances. Now these same career politicians are scrambling to find funding after the bridge has closed. I explained this was exactly the reason I am running for King County Council.
They roll with it?
the comment by councilmember clark is a perfect example of how out of touch our politicians are. "In southpark they roll with it?" what else can we do? The city ignored our cries for repair for 10 years. Roll with what? Roll out of business? Roll out of the neighborhood? was that your way of trying to sound hip? You are not a southpark resident and you dont speak for us. The same with Mcdirtmitt talking about organic and your disappointed? you sat comfortably on vashon island, ignoring our requests for help for the past 10 years and now your working to find us funding that is laughable.
South Park loves Diana Toledo
Diana Toledo is awesome. She grew up a couple blocks from the bridge so when she says that she's disappointed with the closure she means it. I think everyone that was at the celebration last night that reads this article is scratching their heads that these other politicians that basically stopped in for a photo-op are quoted but the Herald is pretty much ignoring Diana. Especially when the community is shouting "We love Diana!"
How did they get to the top to paint that?
I would have been afraid to climb that high. Who is diana toledo?
never mind
oh never mind i see who she is. Yes i will vote for her.
Posers
Ain't it the truth! Was JM even there? Or was that a phone-in quote. Come on WSH, fair and balanced please!
Yes Joe McDermott was there
We can vouch for his presence there at the event.
West Seattle Herald
Tim Fahey and Diana Toledo
I personally saw both Tim Fahey and Diana Toledo at the wake. Why weren't either of them quoted?
Diana Toledo video regarding South Park Bridge closure
Here is great clip of Diana Toledo explaining her disappointment with the legislature ignoring South Park's cries for repair of the bridge over the past 10 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2_ECtNapbc