 |
Puget Sound Transportation Projects |
|
Murray Morgan Bridge - Tacoma, WA Cables replaced, plan prepared to rehabilitate bridgeThe Murray Morgan lift bridge was built in 1913 in Tacoma, Washington, to connect downtown to the tideflats. It was rebuilt in 1957 and used to route Washington Highway 509 through the tideflats. Known by many names throughout its life; the City Waterway bridge, the 11th Street Bridge, Highway 509 bridge and finally the Murray Morgan, the bridge was bypassed in the late 1990's when Washington State Route 509 was routed around the edge of the tideflats. Unfortunately, the bridge has reached the end of its life. Years of use and neglect have severely limited its capacity. Routing traffic away from the bridge has diminished its importance. The state and WSDOT want to remove the bridge as the cost to rebuild it is very high. However, two things have kept the bridge around. All of Tacoma, and especially the Foss Waterway, have been undergoing a renaissance. Therefore, the bridge is rapidly becoming an important link between downtown and the tideflats. Secondly, the bridge has become an icon for Tacoma, serving as both a reminder of its industrial past and as a work of art in its self. A grassroots effort was begun to save the bridge with some success: the bridge was originally scheduled to be torn down in 2006. Update: Post the disastrous bridge collapse in Minneapolis, it appears that this bridge will be torn down before long. The funding is not there, especially for a bridge that is not a major thoroughfare. WSDOT had proposed a replacement but it will not have the industrial artistic flair of the original..if the replacement is ever built. Once can only hope the will is found to build an acceptable replacement. The city and state continue to work out an agreement. Currently plans include replacing the cables and refurbishing the bridge if funding can be found. Thoughts: Back to Top Like so many things in life, the bridge was always just there. Going to visit my mom's friend in Northeast Tacoma we used it when 509 ran across it. There also used to be a road that ran between Dock Street and downtown that ran up the towers of the bridge. The ramps are mostly still there and are used for pedestrian access. I remember using these ramps when we parked along Dock Street to see the Daffodil Parade downtown. In recent years, the Foss has been redeveloped and the bridge has become a major part of it. People have seen the beauty in what was once just a big industrial bridge. I had never seen the bridge open until the Tall Ships Festivals of 2005 and 2008. It was an amazing site to see. While repair of the bridge doesn't seem to be an option, we can only hope that the will is found to build a similar replacement... Future: Back to Top
Links: Back to Top
Images: © Ben Brooks |
|
|
|