Money to fix Broadway Bridge in bill

EVERETT — Work to replace a nearly century-old downtown bridge could begin early next year if a $3.2 million funding request clears some final hurdles in the federal government.

The money for the Broadway Bridge would come from an appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Patty Murray’s office announced. The bill passed a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday and could reach the president’s desk this fall.

The federal money won’t cover the entire $7.3 million construction tab, but it’s enough to get things started, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said.

“I was very happy to get the news,” Stephanson said. “It’s important that we have the bridge replaced because it’s an important freight corridor for the city.”

The 1912 structure between Hewitt Avenue and California Street carries about 30,000 vehicles every day. It passes over rail lines used by Amtrak, the Sounder commuter train and freight trains.

The bridge became a top priority a year ago, after it failed a city inspection. To keep weight off the span, engineers imposed load restrictions banning commercial trucks and stopped letting people park on the bridge shoulders.

Recent inspections have shown the bridge has a sufficiency rating of 24.19. New bridges normally have a rating of 100. Bridges rated at less than 50 are eligible for state rehabilitation money and those rated at less than 30 are eligible for state replacement money.

Early this year, the state turned down a $4.6 million request from Everett to replace the Broadway Bridge, saying at least 21 other bridges in Washington state needed the money more urgently.

The federal money is part of an appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development subcommittee, which Murray heads. The measure passed the subcommittee Wednesday.

It still has to pass through the full committee and the full Senate and needs to be reconciled with a House version of the bill before it can reach the Oval Office for President Barack Obama’s signature. Murray’s office hopes that will happen by early fall, spokesman Eli Zupnick said.

The construction work should create about 30 jobs and help the bridge withstand an earthquake, Murray’s office said in a release. The package also includes $1.2 million for rail lines at the Port of Everett and $1 million to help the Dawson Place child advocacy center buy and renovate a facility in Everett.

The federal money would help Everett pay for engineering and other pre-construction work on Broadway Bridge, draw up a final design, and start construction.

Once construction gets underway, Stephanson said it should be easier to secure about $4.1 million needed to finish the project from other sources.

Before construction work begins, city officials need to decide what to do with traffic. If it continues to flow over the bridge during construction, work is likely to take longer, Stephanson said. A detour route would affect surrounding businesses.

“We’ll want to talk to the local businesses and commuters around the area and get input before we decide how to move ahead,” Stephanson said. “There won’t be any surprises. We’ll make sure people know what we’re going to do.”

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