The massive project to build a 2.7-mile wastewater storage tunnel along the Ship Canal is ticking along, with several projects underway in Ballard, Fremont, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Seattle Public Utilities is heading up the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, which began last summer. Since September, SPU has completed a number of preliminary projects in Ballard, including the installation of a new water main at 24th Ave NW to support the future pump station infrastructure and tunnel-boring machine. They’ve removed debris from the water to protect wildlife in Salmon Bay, and have demolished the old public access pier at the end of 24th Ave NW. A new pier is in the works to replace the one they’ve removed, which is expected to be open to the public in 2022.
SPU says that over the next several months, contractors will be removing contaminated soil on the site, installing public art on the new pier, installing electrical infrastructure in preparation for the tunnel-boring machine, and will complete the new combined sewer overflow outfall at the 24th Ave NW street-end.
The tunnel project extends to Fremont and Queen Anne, where crews will soon be installing new stormwater and sewer pipes, building a drop shaft to collect flows that will enter the tunnel near 2nd Ave NW and Leary Way NW, and building a “microtunnel” under the Ship Canal to collect runoff and sewage from Queen Anne.
SPU has hired Seattle artist Preston Singletary to create artwork for the Fremont and Queen Anne project sites. Singletary is well known for his glass work and pieces honoring his Native ancestry.
Photo: Construction of new 24th Ave NW pier, courtesy SPU
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Friendly reminder: our city “leadership” is criminally negligent by allowing RVs and tents to dump their chemical toilets, waste, and trash into our watersheds, storm drains, and green spaces.
Just admit it, you didnt read it.
cool story bro. Thank you for all that your internet trolling has done for small business, public safety, and the quality of life here in Seattle.
I’m not sure this is actually trolling. Is it not worth considering if it’s a good use of money to spend billions on a wastewater storage tunnel, if the city is going to continue to permit dumping of waste directly into the water supply?
…if the city is going to continue to permit dumping of waste directly into the water supply?
Do you have any facts or evidence that this is happening? Videos? News articles? Hell, even anecdotal evidence is better than making false claims.
First of all, Seattle’s water supply is not in Seattle, it’s miles away in the mountains.
Secondly, should we build necessary wastewater infrastructure to deal with wastewater? Or should we not bother to build needed infrastructure, because, you know, there’s waste in the water?