Seattle Council pledges help for new South Park Bridge

Three months before the decaying South Park Bridge's scheduled closure, Seattle City Council members promised Thursday to help King County raise funds for a new bridge.

All nine council members signed a letter to County Executive Dow Constantine, pledging their support for a second county application for federal stimulus dollars. They said they also would explore other funding options "including whether there could be a possible city contribution toward this project."

City and county officials said no jurisdiction can afford the entire cost of more than $100 million to replace the drawbridge, whose foundations are deteriorating and shifting.

The city's vow to support the county's bid for stimulus funds later this year is a marked contrast to the previous funding cycle, when the city and county competed against each other. Seattle won a $30 million grant for reconstruction of Mercer Street while King County's $99 million bid for bridge replacement was rejected.

King County plans to close the 78-year-old span across the Duwamish River June 30, diverting 20,000 cars and trucks a day onto the First Avenue South Bridge and other routes south of downtown Seattle.

The City Council's letter called the bridge "a vital connector for multiple communities," and said, "A replacement is needed and anything less is unacceptable."

In a statement thanking Council President Richard Conlin and his colleagues for their support, Constantine said, "I know the many residents and businesses that depend on the South Park Bridge every day join me in recognizing the City Council members for their leadership."

Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett said Gov. Chris Gregoire also offered support. "The governor called and said, 'What can I do to help?' We said we would really appreciate some people out of DOT [the Department of Transportation] who are experts on funding and funding opportunities to be part of the team that's putting the funding plan together."

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com