Gregoire, Constantine kick off South Park Bridge construction

For Immediate Release: May 5, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today joined King County Executive Dow Constantine and community leaders to kick off construction for the South Park Bridge replacement project. The state helped secure $54 million of federal funds for the project and its Transportation Improvement Board and Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board contributed a total of $15 million.

�Congratulations to King County, Seattle and the South Park community,� Gregoire said. �This bridge spans a vital route for commerce and freight. We need a new bridge to keep our communities strong, connected and vibrant. I am proud to stand with Executive Constantine, Washington�s congressional delegation and members of the community to lay a stronger foundation to strengthen our economy and keep people moving safely.�

The South Park Bridge connects neighborhoods, industrial areas and State Route 99. It serves 20,000 vehicles per day, including 2,800 trucks. The $96 million construction project should take 32 months to complete and create or sustain approximately 100 jobs for its duration. These workers, in turn, will frequent businesses adjacent to the bridge during construction, and help inject money into the community�s economy.