South Park Bridge building fund may get another $15M

King County's fundraising campaign to replace the now-closed South Park Bridge took another step forward Thursday as the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation Policy Board recommended the council appropriate $15 million for the project.

If approved by the PSRC executive board on July 22, the appropriation would bring local, regional and state commitments to $95 million. King County transportation officials estimate it will cost $131 million to demolish and replace the old bridge, but they say the cost could be lower because of a favorable bidding environment.

South Park residents and other supporters held a "wake" June 30 when King County permanently closed the 79-year-old bridge across the Duwamish River for safety reasons.

County officials plan to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for an economic stimulus grant to cover costs beyond what governments within the state provide.

The PSRC Transportation Policy Board endorsed a staff recommendation that $15 million from the federal Surface Transportation Program be used to demolish the old bridge, the first step in building a new structure.

The money would be redirected from other projects that were funded but aren't yet ready for construction. Those other projects would be funded later, PSRC spokesman Rick Olson said.

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