‘Alignment B’ option to Magnolia Bridge dropped

SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels announced Tuesday that the City would not pursue a bridge replacement alternative that includes a road along the base of the Magnolia Bluff. Neighborhood leaders praised the mayor's decision.

"We will replace the Magnolia Bridge, but not along Seattle's precious shoreline," Nickels said.

The shoreline alignment, known as "Alignment B," relied on a surface road from the Interbay area to 32nd Avenue West. It was one of four alternatives the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has been investigating as it maps plans to replace the aging Magnolia Bridge.

"We are pleased that the Mayor has taken this step to eliminate an alignment that could harm the waterfront," said Lindsay Brown, President of the Magnolia Community Club. "We know this wasn't an easy decision, but this is the right decision for the long-term."

In March, Nickels received a petition with 1,700 signatures against Alignment B. The petition cited environmental and shoreline concerns and asked SDOT not to continue studying the alignment.

After analyzing the issues regarding shoreline permits, the SDOT determined Alignment B unviable since the proposed road would violate the City's own shoreline policies.

At the Nickels’s direction, the shoreline alignment will be dropped in the project's Environmental Impact Study (EIS) now being conducted by SDOT. Three other alignments will proceed through the EIS process.

The department plans to hold a public meeting in mid-May to receive comments on what issues the EIS should study for the three remaining alternatives.

The City has secured $9 million in Federal funding to plan and design a replacement for the bridge. Nickels is seeking $80 to $100 million from federal and local sources for construction of a new bridge.

Construction could begin June 2007.

Office of the Mayor release, April 15

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