King County seeks $36M federal grant for South Park Bridge

King County, backed by seven government partners and Boeing, asked the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday for a $36.2 million grant to help replace the shut down South Park Bridge.

The federal agency will decide in October whether to award the grant known as TIGER II. County Executive Dow Constantine, who in June closed the bridge across the Duwamish River for safety reasons, has aggressively sought funding from other jurisdictions.

King County, Seattle, the state and the Puget Sound Regional Council have pledged $95 million toward the $131 million project. The state's Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board will consider a $5 million appropriation in September, and a U.S. Senate subcommittee last month approved a $3 million appropriation proposed by Sen. Patty Murray.

Sound Transit plans to apply Monday for $34 million in TIGER II funds to extend its light-rail line from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to South 200th Street.

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