South Park Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Park Bridge |
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New South Park Bridge in 2022
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| Crosses | Duwamish River |
| Locale | South Park, Seattle, Washington |
| Maintained by | King County, Washington |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double-leaf bascule |
| Total length | 1,285 feet (392 m) (original bridge) |
| Longest span | Bascule span: 190 feet (58 m) (two 95-foot leaves) |
| History | |
| Designer | HNTB |
| Constructed by | Kiewit-Massman |
| Construction begin | 2011 |
| Opened | 2014 |
The South Park Bridge is a special kind of bridge in Seattle, Washington. It's called a "double-leaf bascule bridge." This means it has two parts that can lift up to let boats pass underneath.
The bridge you see today opened in 2014. It replaced an older bridge that had the same name. The old bridge was built in 1931 and was even listed as a historic place! The King County government takes care of the bridge. It helps cars cross the Duwamish River near Boeing Field. The bridge is named after the nearby South Park neighborhood.
Contents
The First South Park Bridge
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14th Avenue South Bridge
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The first South Park Bridge, now demolished, in 2007
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| Location | Spans Duwamish River, Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Built by | King County Engineering Department |
| Architectural style | Scherzer Rolling Lift bascule |
| Demolished | 2011 |
| MPS | Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004228 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1982 |
The first South Park Bridge was built between 1929 and 1931. It was a "Scherzer rolling lift" bridge. This was a common design for bridges that needed to open and close. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it was recognized as an important historical structure.
By 2009, about 20,000 cars used the bridge every day. It was a very important link to the South Park area.
Why the Old Bridge Was Replaced
The original bridge was already getting old and worn out. Then, in 2001, the Nisqually earthquake caused even more damage. In 2002, inspectors gave the bridge a very low safety score. It was rated 6 out of 100, and later even dropped to 4. To give you an idea, a score of 50 is considered very low.
Even though the bridge was in bad shape, it was hard to get money to build a new one. Plans for a replacement were ready, but funding was difficult to secure.
Finally, the bridge had to close on June 30, 2010. It was too unsafe to use. Soon after, workers started taking the old bridge apart. Even then, it wasn't clear if there would be enough money for a new bridge. Luckily, county officials found the money needed. Work on the new bridge began in May 2011.
Building the New Bridge
In 2010, King County asked for federal money to help build the new bridge. They were given $34 million! This money helped fill the gap and allowed the project to move forward.
In March 2011, King County announced that Kiewit-Massman would build the new bridge. This was a team of two big construction companies. Construction officially started in May 2011.
The new South Park Bridge was finished in 2014. There was a special opening event on June 29, 2014. The very next day, June 30, 2014, the bridge opened for cars to drive across it. It has been helping people get around ever since!
See also
- Past South Park bridges
