A future without the 89-year-old Magnolia Bridge seemed a lot more certain for a frustrated, emotional crowd which filled a Magnolia church hall far beyond its capacity Monday night.
Hundreds of Magnolia Bridge commuters saw alternative traffic plans presented by Seattle transportation leaders who flatly told them the city has no funding to replace the crumbling bridge, which has been deemed structurally deficient by engineers but currently safe for traffic.
"We currently don't have the money programmed in terms of replacing that bridge," said SDOT bridge engineer Kit Loo, who faced a barrage of pointed questions from angry Magnolia residents and business owners.
One resident shouted, "So we have no way of getting out of here in a medical emergency?" "What's your alternative, an elevator or having us go miles and miles out of the way?" asked another.
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Loo explained that the estimated cost to replace the bridge in 2007 was $260 million.
"Today, with the rising costs, it would be more like $384 million," Loo said, adding that the only feasible plan with the current funding would be to expand two alternative routes, both which carry more daily traffic than the Magnolia Bridge, which carries an average 17,000 vehicles per day, according to SDOT.
Patrick Paulsen, who carried a sign which read "Less access -- less taxes," shouted "Don't tell me you maintain the roads, because you sure as hell aren't going to rebuild the bridge and we're covered in potholes. So why should Magnolia citizens continue to pay taxes in Seattle when it does nothing for us?"
Shouts from the audience continued, with one man yelling, "Could you consider not building overpriced bike lanes instead of stranding 40,000 people who live on Magnolia Bluff?"
Magnolia homeowner Carla Skoglund presented Loo with a petition signed by more than 800 residents demanding an audit for Seattle's 2015 Transportation Levy, which called for more than $900 million in spending, some of which was targeted for bridge maintenance.
"I'm told that money is gone, so we want a full audit and reconciliation of where that money went," said Skoglund to loud cheering from the crowd.
More jeers were directed at Loo when he was asked why Magnolia residents haven't been given more of a voice in the planning process. "Ultimately the decision will be made by the mayor and city council," Loo said, triggering a loud chorus of boos from the crowd.
Loo said eventually building another Magnolia Bridge has not been completely eliminated from consideration.
"This is not over," said a man on his way out. "We are not giving up."
Cox Media Group
