The public pier at the end of 24th Ave NW is getting replaced as part of the city’s project to improve water quality in the Ship Canal.
Seattle Public Utilities is heading up the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, which will build a 2.7-mile tunnel along the Ship Canal that will hold up to 29 million gallons of stormwater and sewage during heavy rains. The project includes replacement of the public pier, which will remove creosote-treated wood pilings from Salmon Bay to improve water quality and create a better habitat for fish. Pedestrian access to the waterfront will be greatly improved as a result, and the city has commissioned local artist Christian French to design artwork to be inlayed in the pier’s concrete surface.
Based on feedback from community members, French plans to inlay the below poem and images with a nautical theme on the pier.
The pile installation for the new pier is nearly complete, with the existing pier demolition and debris cleanup schedule over the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, work continues on and around SPU’s Ballard Operations Building at 53rd and 24th Ave NW to prepare for the tunnel construction. SPU says the contractor is installing a new watermain extension on 24th Ave NW — the main is being pressure-tested and sterilized before being connected to the existing system.
To stay updated on the progress and for background info on the project, visit SPU’s Ship Canal Project website.