The aging timber pedestrian and bike bridge connecting upper Magnolia over the railroad tracks to Commodore Park and the Ballard Locks is nearing its expiration, and the City is evaluating their options.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is in the early design phase for the 33rd Ave W Bridge project, evaluating whether a rehabilitation is possible, or if the bridge requires a full replacement.
Over the next several months, SDOT will look at how often the bridge is used for walking and biking and will consider short- and long-term residential impacts of construction work.
SDOT says that while the project is not yet fully funded, they’ll keep working on design options through early 2021. They plan to conduct community outreach later this spring to gather feedback from residents.
To learn more, visit the project website.
“Over the next several months, SDOT will look at how often the bridge is used for walking and biking…” Um, the Locks are closed for pedestrians and bikes right now–with no specific open date–due to Covid-19. So, those surveys sure won’t yield much data re: the bridge’s importance to cyclists and walkers.
https://www.ballardlocks.org/