Looks like the total is going to $95 million dollars.  The Transportation subcommittee found another $15 mil in a drawer somewhere.  I don’t know if this gave them any encouragement or not:

http://www.redstate.com/hickorystick/2010/07/08/south-park-bridge-we-are-encroachers-on-military-airspace/

Including this gem:

“But the highest cost is paid for by the communities surrounding the airstrips and airports themselves.  Six small communities have been obliterated surrounding King County/Boeing Field.  Five communities have been expunged around Sea-Tac Airport.  These communities have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Before going down, they often are under severe economic and social pressure.  The crime rate rises, because of the lowering value of the property, and the ethic of those that it brings in.  Don’t get me wrong, I respect the Poor greatly.  But a fragment of the Poor are that way because of there own bad choices.  It can have some bad consequences on others in the community.”

The Seattle Times reports the Kitty is up to $95 million.  $131 million is the goal.  ”County officials plan to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for an economic stimulus grant to cover costs beyond what governments within the state provide.”  We are going to get the funding for our bridge.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012308181_bridge09m.html

http://westseattleblog.com, The papermoose.blogspot.com, and http://www.b-townblog.com/ as well as all the local blogs have done great work.

Now, I think we aught to shift gears.  We have all seen what happens when we leave it to government to anticipate our needs.  We should get together and plan what we want for the new bridge.  We can discuss the width of the sidewalks, type of bridge, styling and symbolism etc.  Just for the sake of discussion, here is a few things I would like to see.

I suggest we refurbish the old Bascule leaves and re-use them.  The engineers report gave them a bill of good health, and they are very efficient with energy.  I would like a coffee pot set up in one tower, so I can talk to the bridgetender when he is not busy, and get a hot cup of Joe’s joe.  I would like some signs along the railing of the bridge telling about the history of the area, and the important people, like Chief Sealth of the Duwamish Tribe, the names, pictures, and stories of some Japanese people that were expelled in WW2, I think something about William Boeing, and his values would be good.

Just as a lark, I think it would be cool to have a little red barn set up over the road on the east end, that lowers an old  B-17 when the leaves need to be raised.  On the west end, Chief Sealth and Doc Maynard bollards rises out of the road to stop the cars.  That would be awesome.

…………..…………….burnside bridge, Portland