(The Heart Sq.) – Development has begun for a alternative pedestrian bridge that’s anticipated to attach thousands and thousands of customers to Seattle’s Waterfront yearly.

The Marion Avenue pedestrian bridge will likely be a cast-in-place post-tensioned concrete bridge that may present a 16-feet extensive pathway as a substitute of the unique 13-feet. New lighting will likely be put in each above and under the bridge to enhance security and nighttime journey alongside the waterfront.

The bridge will present a connection between First Avenue and Colman Dock on Marion Avenue. It would meet the present bridge at Western Ave a number of blocks away and span over the lately accomplished Alaskan Manner.

Angela Brady, the director of the Workplace of the Waterfront and Civic Tasks, emphasised points of the upcoming bridge that make it secure for pedestrians going to and from the downtown space.

“We look ahead to offering a transparent connection to the ferry terminal which can assist facilitate navigation on this busy space,” Brady stated in a press release Monday. “The brand new bridge will provide a extra nice and secure expertise to commuters and can present a singular architectural vantage level upon which to get pleasure from Seattle’s new waterfront.”

The undertaking is estimated to price $6.3 million, in response to the Seattle Workplace of the Waterfront and Civic Tasks. It’s collectively funded by the Metropolis of Seattle and the Washington State Division of Transportation.

Flatiron, a global development agency, is the contractor for the undertaking. The corporate makes a speciality of infrastructure tasks, together with bridges. 

In keeping with the Workplace of the Waterfront and Civic Tasks, Seattle and WSDOT labored carefully on the specifics of the undertaking to “create efficiencies for development of the brand new Alaskan Manner roadway, the Marion Avenue Bridge and Colman Dock, all whereas sustaining entry to and from the ferry terminal.”

Talks started between town and WSDOT in the summertime of 2018.

Presently, there’s a non permanent bridge positioned on Marion Avenue, Western Ave and Columbia Avenue that has been offering connections for pedestrians to get from the waterfront to downtown for the reason that Alaskan Manner Viaduct was demolished.

The non permanent bridge will likely be operable till completion of the brand new Marion Avenue bridge, which is slated to be open subsequent summer season, in response to the Workplace of the Waterfront and Civic Tasks.

Your complete waterfront development undertaking is anticipated to be completed in late 2023, together with the removing of the non permanent bridge.