February 28, 2014 · Exit133

Murray Morgan Bridge Elevator - Still Waiting...

What's going on with the Murray Morgan Bridge elevator? That's a question we've heard quite a few times in the year since the bridge opened to traffic. Stairs connect 11th street to Dock Street below for pedestrians who feel up to walking the # flights, but the elevator has yet to open its doors to make the connection fully accessible.

The News Tribune has an update on the status on the elevator, which is still waiting for state inspectors to sign off. According to the TNT, the elevator is waiting for permits to clear the City's building department. Once that happens, state inspectors can do their work.

The TNT cites "design and documentation problems" for the delay. An initial delay came when the company installing the elevator failed to pull the proper permit, then had to do some redesigning to meet state codes relating to repair access, lighting, heat sensor requirements. Once those changes were made, the project went back to the City for permits, which is still waiting for. City engineer in charge of the project, Tom Rutherford, hopes to wrap up the project soon.

Rutherford, who in the past has estimated wrongly when the elevator would open, said he is hesitant to name a date.

"It could be as soon as two weeks," he said Monday. "But then it could be longer."

We'll keep our fingers crossed that it's closer to two weeks, but we wouldn't advise holding your breath.

Filed under: City Projects, Tacoma Landmarks, Murray Morgan Bridge

4 comments

Teri February 28, 2014

Thanks for reporting on this. Several times, I've gone down Dock St. planning to use the elevator to get up to the bridge, but found it out of order. ("By now it MUST be working!", I thought.) Fortunately, for me, I am able to climb stairs, but that stair climb is more intense than it looks!
Tim Olsen March 2, 2014

I look forward to the opening of the elevator. I plan to ride it during what I expect to be a very short operational life. Anyone else care to make an estimate of how long it will be before the thing is closed on account of it becoming an unauthorized public restroom? I'll give it a month, maybe two. Heck, they can't even keep a REAL bathroom open just a couple blocks away, down under the 21st street bridge.
Kevin March 3, 2014

While I'm all for improving public infrastructure and accessibility, I'm disappointed that a significant portion of funding was set aside for this project. The need for this was minimal and it's going to be a huge liability for the city (vandalism, urinating, maintenance, etc.). I would have felt more comfortable waiting for additional development on that side of the Thea Foss Waterway to bring additional pedestrian traffic.
robmcnairhuff March 3, 2014

I am just relieved that I can stop holding my breath now...