402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200 TACOMA, WA 98402 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 251
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
Year In Review
Hylebos Bridge Re-Opening Article and Photo By Todd Matthews, Editor For more than a decade, the locked and upright platforms of the double-bascule Hylebos Bridge literally served as walls. For truck drivers hauling cargo throughout the tide flats and Northeast Tacoma residents headed toward State Route 509, the broken bridge meant motorists could no longer bypass most of Marine View Drive in favor of a shortcut along South 11th Street, across the Hylebos Bridge, and a connection to Taylor Way and Alexander Avenue East. That changed on May 21 when the bridge reopened to all traffic. In June, representatives from the City of Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma gathered on the west side of the Blair Waterway for a ribboncutting ceremony to celebrate the official re-opening of the Hylebos Bridge, which spans the Hylebos Waterway on East 11th Street. The bridge's troubles began in 2001, when a failed drive shaft meant operators could no longer raise and lower the bridge. Instead, cables locked the bridge's bascule leaves upright to allow boats to navigate the waters between the Hylebos Waterway and Commencement Bay. It was great for boaters who no longer had to wait for the bridge to be raised and lowered. For motorists, however, it was frustrating. A fire three years later damaged the mechanical and electrical control systems. And a bridge inspection in 2005 noted that the existing bridge approaches, support structure, fender system and electrical system needed to be replaced, according to City of Tacoma officials. In 2009, a $15.3 million contract was awarded to Quigg Bros, Inc. to repair the bridge and restore service. The project was funded by the City of Tacoma, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Port of Tacoma. Earlier this year, Tacoma City Council awarded a three-year, $546,000 contract to Orion Marine Contractors of Tacoma to operate and maintain the bridge. Following the ceremony, visitors walked the length of the bridge and toured the control room. "It took a little longer than anticipated but it is a benefit to the northeast residents and all the people that work on the tide flats and some of the businesses that are growing here and expanding here," said Port of Tacoma Commission President Richard Marzano.
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