SR 520 bridge deconstruction alternative | Letter

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, April 19, 2016

It’s with appreciation that I thank the Bothell Reporter for increasing awareness on the “deconstruction” of the SR 520 floating bridge, where it is proposed that the old SR 520 floating bridge be towed up-lake to the city of Kenmore and demolished … and The Daily World for increasing awareness regarding the devastating erosion the community of North Cove (12 miles south of Westport, Wash. on SR 105) is sustaining.

Kenmore and North Cove may have a binding interest in the “deconstruction” of the SR 520 bridge.

Having attended a Washington State Department of Transportation community awareness meeting regarding coastal erosion (March 31 in the Shoalwater Tribal Center) I couldn’t help but be intrigued by a concept that a community member gave, yet a proposal that it appears the Washington State Department of Transportation has not addressed. The community member (a retired mechanical/structural engineer), proposed an alternative, a means to possibly divert ocean currents (near Jacobson’s Jetty) westward, to lessen the massive erosion impacting the community of North Cove (commonly known as “Washaway”). His proposal? Simple, scuttle the old SR 520 floating bridge in the ocean channel near Jacobson’s Jetty.

This proposal may be naïve, yet from the perspective of a previous boat slip owner at the Harbour Village Marina in Kenmore, long time Bothell resident who lives near the Sammamish River (deconstructing the 520 bridge in Kenmore may impact Sammamish River navigation) and who owns vacation property in Tokeland (down coast from North Cove), this proposal appears to be a win-win for all involved. Kenmore doesn’t have to contend with the old 520 bridge demolition and its potential pollution hazards, erosion at North Cove may be reduced and the Department of Transportation/KGM (Kiewit/General/Mason – bridge decommissioning corporation) may well benefit by reducing decommissioning costs.

Tom Larsen (CDR/USN, Ret)