The city has just announced the start of the Ballard Bridge Planning Study, which will look at rehabilitation and replacement options for the future of the 102-year-old bridge.
The first step of the study is a survey, aimed at understanding how the community uses and values the Ballard Bridge, which carries over 57,000 vehicles per day. The survey is open until July 7th.
While the Seattle Department of Transportation performs regular maintenance and inspections, some rehab is in order to sustain its high use.
“Since the structure is in good condition today, we have an opportunity to plan ahead and look beyond just maintaining its current form and function,” the survey reads.
The long-range bridge study, funded by the Levy to Move Seattle, will look at associated costs, risks, benefits, and trade-offs of each rehab or replacement option. The study will first screen options, “based on geometric and traffic constraints and will then evaluate cost-effective and constructible structure types.”
To learn more about the study or to stay updated via a listserv, visit the city’s Ballard Bridge Planning Study website.
Amazing that this bridge has been working for 102 years. I imagine it will be almost impossible to predict what the needs of the Ballard community will be 100 yrs from now!