An open house this week allowed residents to look over the 4 alternatives being proposed for the future of the Heron Street Bridge.

KXRO spoke with Dennis Engel, Multimodal Planning Manager for WSDOT, asking him what the next steps are for the process of choosing a preferred alternative.

Engel spoke on what this timeframe may entail.

2 of the alternatives feature costs above the allocated funding for the project, and we asked Engel how these could be achieved.

Following public comments on the alternative that replaces both the Heron Street and Wishkah River bridges, we asked if this would be a similar design that includes the cement weight holding the Welcome to Aberdeen sign.

Public comment on the future of the Heron Street Bridge is now open.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is asking for residents to weigh in on what the figure of bridge travel in East Aberdeen should look like.

“The US 12 Heron Street Bridge in Aberdeen is nearing its final chapter. When it first opened to the traveling public in 1949, the average loaf of bread cost 13 cents. Now this link to Pacific Ocean beaches has reached the end of its useful life.”

WSDOT has opened public comment for the ongoing plans to remove and replace the  Heron Street Bridge.

WSDOT is looking at a range of alternatives for the bridge, including building a new bridge in the same location, building one that connects to Heron Street to Wishkah Street, or options to replace both Heron Street Bridge and the Wishkah Street Bridge. One of these options would replace the 2 bridges with a single 4-lane bridge.

The majority of the options would impact Zelasko Park and local businesses.

Local residents can comment through an online survey.

 

“We need to hear from members of the community before any design work begins,” said WSDOT Regional Multimodal Planning Manager Dennis Engel. “This first step of the process will help us meet the needs of the community as we move forward in replacing this important link.”

 

The online survey is available for public comment through Friday, April 12.

 

	F Street Bridge	Heron Street Bridge	One 2‐Way Bridge	Two 1‐Way Bridges
Design	$5,500,000	$5,300,000	$5,500,000	$5,500,000
Right of Way	$3,600,000	$400,000	$8,000,000	$3,800,000
Construction	$60,900,000	$60,300,000 to $70,300,000	$103,500,000	$110,700,000
Total	$70,000,000	$66,000,000 to $76,000,000	$117,000,000	$120,000,000

 

Alternatives

F Street Bridge Alternative

PROS:

• 1½ – 2½ years estimated construction is the same or shorter than the other alternatives
• New public shoreline area along the east bank of Wishkah River
• The existing Heron Street Bridge stays open during construction of new bridge
• Available funds should cover all or most of the estimated $70 million cost of the new bridge

CONS

• Impact to south end of Zelasko Park
• Three businesses potentially affected by proposed bridge

Heron Street Bridge Alternative

PROS

• No Impact to Zelasko Park
• A temporary bridge provides for vehicle movement during construction of a new bridge
• No long-term effect on surrounding businesses by proposed bridge
• Available funds should cover all or most of the estimated $66-76 million cost of the new bridge

CONS

• Longest estimated construction period (3½  years) compared to the other alternatives
• Construction of a temporary bridge prior to removal of the existing bridge adds at least one year to the length of construction
• A temporary bridge may affect some businesses during construction

One 2-Way Bridge Alternative

PROS

• Both existing bridges stay open during construction of new bridge
• New public shoreline area along the east bank of Wishkah River
•     Lower overall maintenance costs when compared to two separate bridges
• 1½ – 2½ years estimated construction period is the same or shorter than the other alternatives

CONS

• Impact to a large part of Zelasko Park
• Seven businesses potentially affected by proposed bridge
• Available funds cover only part of the estimated $117 million cost of the new bridge. Additional funds would be needed from State Legislature, causing delays in starting construction and/or building in phases over a longer period of time.

 

Two 1-Way Bridges Alternative

PROS

• Both existing bridges stay open during construction of new bridge
• New public shoreline area along the east bank of Wishkah River
• 1½ – 2½ years estimated construction period is the same or shorter than the other alternatives

CONS

• Impact to the south part of Zelasko Park
• Three businesses potentially affected by proposed bridge
• Available funds cover only part of the estimated $120 million cost of the new bridge. Additional funds would be needed from State Legislature, causing delays in starting construction and/or building in phases over a longer period of time.

 

 

Featured Photo from Google Maps