$20 Million for the Murray Morgan Bridge?
Today’s Tacoma City Council Study Session was the scene of some pleasantly surprising news: Last week, WSDOT made available a 0% interest loan of $20 million to the City, as long as the funds could be obligated by October 1.
Kurtis Kingsolver from Public Works revealed that the City intends to use the loan in conjunction with $37.1 million in currently committed funds to move forward with portions of the Murray Morgan Bridge rehabilitation project. This money is now intended to aid the repairs to both the City and Port approaches to the bridge.
Little by little …
Previously on Exit133: Movement on the Murray Morgan Bridge
Filed under: murray-morgan-bridge, tacoma-landmarks
19 comments
D Davest September 1, 2010
This is great news! With the economy in it’s current state, funding like this will not only help continue the preservation of the bridge but will create yet more jobs. I’m liking it!
J Jesse September 1, 2010
Hopefully there are plans for the east side of the Foss if they’re going to dump all that money into the bridge. Besides an emergency route for fire trucks to get to the port from downtown, I see no value in these repairs or the bridge — besides sentimental value.
R RR Anderson September 1, 2010
build the Boe Foss Stadium!
J jsisbest September 1, 2010
Bridge to no where that you can’t even cross? $20 million more for a wedding photo backdrop. I LOVE Murray Morgan, but the bridge we’ve given his name should go. A- the money could be SO much better spent. B- the demo could provide some short term stimulus. I’m not sayin, I’m jus sayin.
Continue to throw millions at the bridge, yet we couldn’t afford to even stabilize the Luzon Building? I don’t know where the money’s coming from, but the priorities seem out of whack.
N notme September 1, 2010
So let me understand you jsisbest: you are upset that the City did not save the Luzon, but you are also upset that the City will be able to save the Murray Morgan?
The MMB is part of a vital urban arterial. Some folks say “but 11th St deadends just a little ways farther anyway.” So what? 11th Street still connects downtown to the port area and thousands of jobs and the county’s only trauma centers.
And yes reopening the bridge does assist with further redevelopment on the east side of the Foss. That was why we spent all that money cleaning it up, remember?
Could the City spend $20 million on something else? Of course, but I haven’t seen anyone offering money for those purposes.
Where did WSDOT get the money? I don’t know but given the October 1 deadline, I am guessing it comes from a federal bridge program in which there is a surplus because of lower bid prices.
Preserving and reopening the MMB is a very good idea and I think the 100 plus jobs the project will generate is pretty cool too.
R RR Anderson September 1, 2010
this is really wonderful news. I’d say another ribbon cutting ceremony is in order.
J jsisbest September 1, 2010
notme,
That’s exactly what I’m saying. Luzon = culturally significant. It’s part of American architecture’s history and legacy, an important link in architectural history and designed by a historically important architect. The MMB = infrastructure. If you want a connection to the tideflats, it can be had at far cheaper than restoring the MMB. There’s always so much federal and state money that gets spent on dumb infrastructure projects, but preserving culturally significant Architecture, no money. And… I don’t see downtown needing to spread across the Foss when we can’t even fill the buildings, and parking lots, we’ve got. Sure, vehicular access might be nice. But better pedestrian access needs to be made TO the Foss, NOT across the Foss.
R RR Anderson September 1, 2010
Tacoma without the MMB? you guys are smoking crack.
J jsisbest September 1, 2010
rr,
maybe. well put.
C captiveyak September 1, 2010
another thing to consider re: Port Traffic: Once the Lincoln Ave pass is put in, and traffic patterns through Fife change, things could change a lot for the approach from the Port side. Maybe, maybe not.
Y You're Welcome September 1, 2010
The last figures showed it would cost the city more to remove the bridge then to restore it!
The MMB is vital to Tacoma. It’s historic. A landmark!
Hooray for the bridge.
E Erik B. September 1, 2010
MMB is Tacoma. One and the same!
R RR Anderson September 1, 2010
stock in Beautiful Angle posters just went up.
N notme September 1, 2010
jsisbest: The MMB is infrastructure but it is also historic. Check out Spanning Washington by Craig Holstine for proof. Or talk to Bill Baarsma. And I’m sorry but it is not possible to replace the access the MMB provides for less money. That has already been examined- a lot. Replacing the bridge with a new lift structure in place would cost in excess of $100 million after you spend $20 million or so to tear down the MMB. I’ve already lowered those costs from what was estimated a few years ago because bid prices are generally dropping.
If you want a non-lift bridge, it would take an act of Congress to make the Foss a non-navigable waterway. And that would force Martinac to move and also no tall ships south of the bridge ever again.
If you want to build a lift bridge at the Dock Street level rather than at the current bridge location, it still costs $20 million to tear down the MMB and at least $75 million to build a low level lift bridge. And you lose the direct connection between downtown and the port.
The really cool thing about this project is that preserving this historic bridge is actually the most cost effective alternative. How often does that happen?
R RR Anderson September 1, 2010
amen
T Thorax O'Tool September 1, 2010
There is something to be said for history and for character. Both of which the MM provides Tacoma.
and it’s cheaper to repair than replace.
Why are we even arguing this?
J Jesse September 2, 2010
“this is really wonderful news. I’d say another ribbon cutting ceremony is in order.” —-RR
Lol. Don’t even get me started on that!
J Jesse September 2, 2010
Put a a main road down the middle of the peninsula that is the east side of the Foss (that Peninsula between the Puyallup and the Foss)and zone the tip facing Commencement Bay as “stadium” and the rest from 509 to Commencement zoned “casino”.
Then you’d have a use for the bridge.
A ams September 2, 2010
Yippee!!!