05.16.06
Fremont Bridge Replacement, or, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Try to Cross
Since the City of Seattle is doing a singularly SHITTY job of informing the public about the traffic nightmare soon to visit one of the few north-south canal crossings — one that can already be a test of patience during the evening rush (we’re talking 30 min. to travel a half mile or less) — I feel it my civic, or at least neighborly, duty to pass along some info.
Starting, thank you, with how absolutely pissed I am at the City guvmint. The first I even heard of this was by way of a passing remark from a Fremont resident. At least they are getting some warning. The only details I have now are thanks to a city pamphlet I happened to notice in the trash at work! I myself am a resident of the University District, a mere two neighborhoods to the east (and, I might add, site and/or entry point for two of the five total crossings), and have I received any information from the City in my mailbox? Fuck no. Has there even been advisory notices on ANY of the impacted bus routes? Fuck no. Disgraceful! Incompetents! Shit heads! Worthless bums, all! Okay, moving along…
The City is in the process of completely replacing the Fremont Bridge, a lovely olde thing but not up to ever-increasing traffic thereabouts and prolly an earthquake hazard to boot. Supposedly up-to-date information can be found online at http://www.seattle.gov/fremontbridge/. Full and partial bridge closings begin in June and are expected to continue for at least 10 months — that’s until May 2007 to you and me.
Car, pedestrian, and boat traffic will all be impacted. Surrounding streets will also be impacted and some, including 34th, will be occasionally closed completely to all but local traffic.
Beginnging on May 22, 2006, ALL bus routes passing through Fremont will be rerouted until next year. No buses will cross the bridge, period. (SPU students be warned!) Routes 26, 28, 31, and 74 are all affected. Metro Transit has at least deigned to make some information available online at http://transit.metrokc.gov/up/projects/projects-fremont.html
For those of you who drive, the Shitty of Seattle has at least provided a map of alternate routes (PDF) — all three of them. Good thing someone was around to tell you about it, huh?
Pissants.
jt said,
May 16, 2006 at 9:22 pm
jeez….thanks spence.
i ride that frickin’ bus everyday…
i knew they were doing some work…but i didn’t know that!!!!!
Hell's Donut House said,
May 16, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Wait, that means… no more troll!?
My heart breaks….
Hell's Donut House said,
May 17, 2006 at 8:10 am
But what of troll, Spence… for the love of God, man, what of the troll?!
Spencer said,
May 17, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Rest easy, kind Mr. Donut House, the Fremont Troll may be chagrined by the hurley burley but he will be unscathed, safe in his home under the Aurora Bridge about a quarter-mile-ish from the Fremont Bridge, which is the one being replaced. Even the city guvmint skalawags know better than to tussle with the Troll.
Derek said,
May 20, 2006 at 9:01 pm
30 minutes?! You’re figures are grossly underestimated. Nearly 45 minutes on Friday coming back from UW to go to Magnolia. I knew I should have taken a risk and gone on I-5. At least in gridlock on I-5, I would have had the illusion of “moving”.
In regards to the notices, the only ones I was aware of were the little orange signs that you see as you cross the bridge (this was about a week ago).
I’m not surprised that the city failed to notify area residents. Reminds me of the time Seattle City Light decided to close the cross section outside my house one day without giving anyone notice. Perfecto
Spencer said,
May 21, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Hi Derek — Welcome to Mugu Brainpain…
Yeah, you’re right — tho I was referring to 30 min. stop-and-go just around the bridge itself. I’ve had bus trips between Magnolia and UW via Fremont take an hour and sometimes more during the evening rush. Fwiw, going via 45th/46th/Market and looping down from (or up to) Ballard is usually faster — though that is sure to change come Monday. heavy sigh.