>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.
THAT AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> WE WILL START OUR PROGRAM
NOW.
THERE ARE A FEW SEATS IN THE
FRONT IF YOU NEED TO SEAT.
WELCOME TO THE COMMAND AGAIN
FOR THE REOPENING OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE . WE ARE SO GLAD
YOU ARE JOINING US I AM SEATTLE
NEW D.O.T.
DIRECTOR GREG SWANSON AND
SERVING AS THE MASTER OF
CEREMONY AFTER BEING ON THE JOB
FOR EIGHT DAYS AS WE REOPEN THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I AM HONOR TO READ THE LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT WITH MY FIRST
TIME HAVING OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THIS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
BEFORE WE BEGIN WE ACKNOWLEDGE
THE LAND AND WATERS IN WHICH WE
GATHER TODAY I WITHIN THE
ANCESTRAL TERRITORY OF THE
MUCKLESHOOT AND THE SUQUAMISH
PEOPLE'S.
THE ANCESTORS ARE THE ORIGINAL
STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND THE
RIVER ON WHOSE BANKS WE GATHER
TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT WATERWAY
TO THE SUQUAMISH AND MUCKLESHOOT
PEOPLE JUST LIKE IT WAS WITH
THEIR ANCESTORS.
LIKE THEIR ANCESTORS TODAY THE
MUCKLESHOOT AND SUQUAMISH ARE
EXCELLENT FISSURES, HUNTERS,
GATHERS, NEW BUILDERS AND BASKET
WEAVERS AND LIVE IN HARMONY
WITH THE LAND AND WATERWAY AS
THEY HAVE FOR THOUSANDS OF
YEARS.
HERE THE SUQUAMISH AND
MUCKLESHOOT LIVE AND PROTECT
THE LANDS AND WATERS OF THEIR
ANCESTORS FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS AS PROMISED BY THE
POINT ELLIOTT TREATY OF 1855
AND THEY WORK, RAISE THEIR
CHILDREN AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR
COMMUNITY, PRACTICE THEIR
TRADITIONAL WAYS AND SPEAK
THEIR TRADITIONAL LANGUAGES
JUST AS THEIR ANCESTORS DID.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE CHAIRMAN
JASON ELKINS AND TRIBAL COUNCIL
TREASURE JOHN DANIELS JR. OF
THE MUCKLESHOOT TRIBAL COUNCIL
AND JOSHUA BAGLEY OF THE
SUQUAMISH TRIBAL COUNCIL HERE
WITH US TODAY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
BRANDON MOSES OF THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE TO LEAD US IN
PRAYER.
COME ON UP, BRANDON.
>> WE WILL TURN UP THE VOLUME A
LITTLE BIT
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM BRANDON MOSES WITH
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
CULTURE COMMITTEE AND SPIRITUAL
COMMITTEE.
TODAY I WILL SAY A PRAYER.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING PRAYER.]
>> WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS BRIDGE
AND THE HANDS THAT WENT INTO IT
TO REOPEN IT SO WE CAN TRAVEL
SAFE.
I TRULY THANK YOU AND PRAISE
YOU FOR THIS DAY AS WE GATHER
TODAY FOR THIS OPENING, THIS
BLESSING.
WE THANK AND PRAISE EACH AND
EVERYONE TAKING THE TIME OUT OF
THEIR DAY TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU
AGAIN TODAY.
[SINGING IN NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE.]
>> WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU
FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE THAT IS
HERE AND LET THEM TAKE THEIR
BLESSINGS HOME WITH THEM AND
THAT THEY TRAVEL SAFELY BACK
HOME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR
FIRST SPEAKER IS A LEADER WHO I
ADMIRE VERY MUCH, THE MAN THAT
BROUGHT ME TO SEATTLE VERY
RECENTLY, MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR SDOT
DIRECTORS SAID IT WAS A SAFE
DAY . WE WERE TRYING TO PLAN
THIS FOR YESTERDAY AND SO IT
COULD BE SAID HE DID FOR SIX
DAYS AND RESTED ON THE SEVENTH
DAY.
I HAVE A LOT OF THANK USE
INCLUDING OUR FORMER MAYOR
JENNY DURKAN WITH OUR FORMER
SDOT DIRECTOR.
I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING
RIGHT NOW, WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU
WHEN I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION
TO CLOSE THIS ON MARCH 23,
2020.
IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION AND A
WELL RESEARCHED DECISION.
I THANK YOU AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND THE FORMER
ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING IN
THE WORK AND THAT IS A SEGUE
INTO WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE
THIS AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE THE
REOPENING OF THE BRIDGE.
TWO DAYS AGO THIS SUNDAY WE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF WELCOMING BACK
VERYONE TO A BRIDGE THAT HAS
BEEN CLOSED FOR 2 1/2 YEARS.
WE WERE ASKED ABOUT THE FANCY
RIBBON CUTTING AND WHAT KIND OF
THINGS WE COULD DO BECAUSE THE
PROUD PEOPLE OF SEATTLE JUST
WANTED TO GET IT OPEN.
WE DECIDED TO SPEAK FROM THE
HEART TO PROVIDE YOU THE DATA
ON WHAT'S OCCURRED WITH THIS
PHENOMENAL WORK.
QUITE CANDIDLY AND HONESTLY
IT'S BEEN OUR ADMINISTRATION
LASER FOCUSED ON SAFETY.
SAFETY IN EVERY FORM THAT HAS
TO BE PRESENTED TO OUR CITY.
THAT IS OUR CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITY IN GETTING THIS
BRIDGE OPENED SWIFTLY WITHOUT
COMPROMISING ANY OF OUR SAFETY
STANDARDS.
REUNITED NOW AND SOME OF YOU
ARE NOT R&B EXPERTS LIKE OUR
MAYOR.
THERE'S A SONG, REUNITED, FEELS
SO GOOD.
SOME OF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT.
THERE WERE T-SHIRTS IN WITH
SEATTLE IN MAY THAT SAID
REUNITED.
OUR FOUNDATION AND OUR NORSTAR
UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATION IS ONE
SEATTLE.
I WANT TO MAKE IT WAS THE CLEAR
WITH CANNOT BE ONE SEATTLE
WITHOUT WEST SEATTLE.
[ APPLAUSE ] I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MANY OF THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE AND
SOME OF WHOM YOU WILL HEAR FROM.
YOU PROBABLY SEE US GREETING
EACH OTHER LIKE A FAMILY
REUNION.
THAT IS HOW OUR COUNTRY WILL
GET BETTER.
THAT IS HOW OUR STATE AND
COUNTY WILL GET BETTER.
THAT IS HOW OUR CITY WILL GET
BETTER.
WE DON'T JUST DO THE FIRM
HANDSHAKE. IT'S THE PARTNERSHIP
AND RELIANCE THAT HAS GOTTEN US
HERE TODAY.
I ACKNOWLEDGE SENATORS,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND OUR STATE
SENATOR JOEY AND.
PATRICK HILBERT, THE DIMENSION
DIVISION ADMINISTRATOR FROM
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
JUST A MOMENT. I HAVE TWO ADD-
ONS.
OUR U.S. COAST GUARD CHIEF OF
WATERWAYS MANAGEMENT FOR SEATTLE
. ALSO FROM SENATOR MURRAY'S
OFFICE, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL
RECOGNITION RIGHT NOW PLEASE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
OF COURSE THE WORK COULD NOT BE
DONE WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
AND TEAMWORK THAT WE HAVE
WITNESSED FOR THE LAST TWO AND
HALF YEARS.
LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW HUGE
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT
WE NEED TO SAY THANK YOU TOO.
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN ONCE AGAIN
AND THE FORMER SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SAM'S A BOBWHITE.
YOU MAY RECALL IN MARCH 2020
THOSE WERE NOT THE BEST OF
TIMES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THEY
WERE VERY TRYING TIMES AND WE
CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE
RAVAGES OF THE PANDEMIC.
MAYOR DURKAN.THE CALL AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SDOT
STAFF INVOLVED WITH MANY THAT
ARE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS WORKERS, ENGINEERS,
PLANNERS, COMMUNICATORS,
MAINTENANCE CREWS AND TO ALL
THE OTHER CITY STAFF AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT
SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITIES AND
BUSINESSES THROUGH THIS
CHALLENGING TIME.
THANK YOU IN A PARTICULAR THANK
YOU TO SDOT WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
TEAM THAT LED THE EFFORT.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY TASK
FORCE AND THE FORMER MAYOR GREG
NICHOLS THAT CONTINUES TO LOVE
AND LEAD THE CITY.
THANK YOU WARMER MAYOR GREG
NICHOLS HERE TODAY WITH US TO
MAKE SURE WE WERE TRANSPARENT
AND DOING RIGHT BY OUR
COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HEAR FROM GREG LATER.
GREG TRIED TO NEGOTIATE 20 TO
25 MINUTES OF SPEAKING TIME,
JUST SO YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU, FORMER MAYOR GREG
NICHOLS. THANK YOU FOR THE
PANEL MEMBERS AND MARITIME TOWN
ALL PARTICIPANTS AND EMPLOYER
RESEARCH GROUP PARTNERS.
THANK YOU TO PRESIDENT BIDEN
AND SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG, THE
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION,
AND ALL OF OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS.
WE HAVE TWO OF THE FEDERAL
NATIONAL LEADERS HERE WITH US
TODAY.
OUTSTANDING FEDERAL DELEGATION.
THE STATE HAS TO BE SO PROUD OF
OUR DELEGATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CONGRESS MEMBERS
AND THE REST OF THE WASHINGTON
DELEGATION WHOSE TIRELESS
ADVOCACY FOR THE PROJECT WE SEE
WITH THE TANGIBLE RESULTS HERE
TODAY.
THANK YOU TO THE PORT OF
SEATTLE IN NORTH PORT SEAPORT
ALLIANCE IN SUPPORTING THE
REOPENING IN SO MANY WAYS.
THANK YOU TO KING COUNTY FOR
BEING A PARTNER TO US IN THIS
BRIDGE REPAIR. WE HAVE GREAT
PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY AND
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANKS TO THE TEAMSTERS, IRON
WORKERS, LABORERS.
WE EVEN HAD CONCRETE ISSUES WE
HAD TO DEAL WITH.
WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY.
THIS IS MY CELEBRATION FACE.
>> OUR REPRESENTATIVE WORKERS
THAT CAME TOGETHER RUNNING FAIR
AND SAFE JOBSITES AND EVERYONE
CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR ONE
SEATTLE EIGHT REALIZE DIVISION.
BEGIN WITH MAYOR DURKAN
LEADERSHIP AND OUR CONTINUED
WORK IN THIS AREA, WE HAD OVER
300 COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND
HEARD FROM OVER 17,000 PEOPLE.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING OVER 400
COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROJECTS TO
IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA.
WHEN I SAID WE COULD NOT BE ONE
SEATTLE WITHOUT WEST SEATTLE,
THAT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE,
TRANSLATING FROM WORDS INTO
ACTIONS.
LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING THIS.
THERE IS ONE THANK YOU NOT IN
MY PREPARED REMARKS.
THAT IS WHEN MIKE DIRECTIVE TO
INDICATIONS GETS VERY NERVOUS
WHEN I START DRIFTING.
I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
BY THIS OVER THE LAST TWO AND
HALF YEARS.
THEY HAD COMMUTE SCHEDULES AND
HAD TO GET TO WORK, CARE FOR
PEOPLE AND HAD MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS.
I THANK THEM FOR THEIR PATIENCE
AND FOR LOOKING AT THE NORSTAR
WITH US THE CITY OF SEATTLE
UNDER MY PREDECESSOR LEADERSHIP.
THE PEOPLE SAW THE STATE COMING.
EVEN IF YOU SEE SOMETHING
COMING WHEN YOU FILLED THE
INCONVENIENCE IN YOUR LIFE OF
HAVING TO EXPERIENCE IT,
SOMETIMES THOSE WORDS ARE
HOLLOW.
WE THANK THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY
THIS.
HOPE THAT OUR IMMEDIATE CONVEYS
SOMEHOW AND YOU WILL PROBABLY
SPEND ABOUT 10 SECONDS ON WHAT
I'VE SAID TODAY.
BUT IF THAT ONE PART GETS
CONVEYED WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS
BEEN INCONVENIENCED BY THE US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S MY ABSOLUTE PRESSURE AND
PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE SENATOR
MARIA CANTWELL.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YOU CAN SEE IS WEARING PURPLE
AHEAD OF THE BIG GAME TOMORROW
AND ALREADY TOLD ME HIS
PREDICTION OF THE GAME BUT YOU
CAN GET THAT OUT OF HIM
YOURSELF.
MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE
DOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH
SEATTLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I OFFER A SPECIAL THANKS TO
EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THIS
INCLUDING MY COLLEAGUES.
OBVIOUSLY THE TEAM THAT WAS
MENTIONED AS PART OF THIS TASK
FORCE, FORMER MAYOR GREG
NICHOLS AND PAULINE LOPEZ FOR
THEIR CONTRIBUTION ON THIS.
OBVIOUSLY SAM WAS HERE BUT
MAYOR DURKAN THAT LITERALLY HAD
TO LEAVE ONE OF THE MOST
CHALLENGING ASPECTS IN MAKING
THE DECISION TO MOVE US
FORWARD.
I SAY A SPECIAL THANKS FOR BOTH
OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
TO HEATHER MARKS THAT HAS BEEN
A WARRIOR EVER SINCE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SHE IS HIDING OVER THERE BUT
I'M TELLING YOU SHE PROBABLY
DID NOT SLEEP OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
FOR THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
FOR THEIR GREAT WORK AND THE
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE
WORK THEY DID IN A PROJECT THAT
BECAME MORE COMPLEX THAN WE
WERE ORIGINALLY THINKING.
WE HAVE IRON WORKERS, BUILDING
TRADES, LABORERS, CONCRETE
MASONS, OPERATORS, ELECTRICIANS,
TEAMSTERS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM.
SEATTLE IS DEFINITELY UNIQUE
AND HISTORIC, WEST SEATTLE IS
UNIQUE AND IS STORED IN A
CONNECTOR TO A GLOBAL ECONOMY.
OVERNIGHT THE BRIDGE SHUT DOWN
AND THAT CAUSED EXTRA SIX MILES
OF DETOURS THROUGH THE CONGESTED
FIRST AVENUE SOUTHBRIDGE AND
ADDED 30 MINUTES TO NORMAL WHAT
WOULD BE 15 MINUTE COMMUTE TO
DOWNTOWN.
MORE THAN 84,000 DRIVERS AND
25,000 BUS RIDERS HAD TO FIND A
NEW WAY TO WORK.
COME THIS SUNDAY THE NIGHTMARE
OF THIS CONGESTION WILL COME TO
AN END.
[ APPLAUSE ] I HEARD FROM THE
REGISTERED NURSE AND LIFELONG
SEATTLE RESIDENT THAT WAS
WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER SHE AND
HER NEIGHBORS WOULD BE ABLE TO
GET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF
THEY WERE NEEDED.
I HEARD FROM A PARTNER OF A
RESIDENT THAT SAID SHE
STRUGGLED TO GET HIS DAUGHTER
TO PRESCHOOL BEFORE GETTING TO
THEIR OWN JOB AS A MIDDLE
SCHOOL TEACHER.
THE SUDDEN BRIDGE CLOSURE ADDED
SO MUCH COMMUTE TIME TO THEM
THEY WERE CONCERNED WHETHER
THEY COULD KEEP THEIR JOBS IN
THAT CAPACITY.
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE ON VASHON
ISLAND AND SOUTHWARD ABOUT HOW
HARD IT WAS TO GET TO THE JOB
AND TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.
WITHOUT THE BRIDGE DRIVERS LOST
THEIR DIRECT ROUTE, AND THEY DO
REALLY JAM THROUGH THE FREIGHT
TRAFFIC OF EAST MARGINAL WAY.
NOT ONLY DID THAT SLOW DOWN
COMMUTERS BUT ALSO SLOW DOWN
OUR FREIGHT AND FREIGHT
CAPACITY.
WEST SEATTLE FELT THE WORST OF
THE PAIN WITH THE RESIDENTS BUT
ALSO SLOW DOWN A SUPPLY CHAIN
THAT WAS CRITICAL TO MOVING
GOODS INTO THE NORTHWEST.
WE WANTED TO DO ONE THING AND
THAT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION KNEW HOW
IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE WAS TO OUR
RESIDENTS INTO OUR ECONOMY.
[ APPLAUSE ] NOT ONLY DO WE ASK
SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG FOR
HELP BUT WE CONVENED MEETINGS
WITH THE DEPUTY SECRETARY,
POLLY TROTT AND BERG, TO TOUR
THE BRIDGE AND THE QUARTERS WE
MENTIONED EARLIER ON EAST
MARGINAL WAY.
SUMMER ALSO RECOUNTING HOW WE
ALL CRAWLED THROUGH THAT BREACH
AT ONE POINT IN TIME. WITH THAT
WE HELD MANY MEETINGS WITH
MAYOR DURKAN AND HER TEAM AND
WASHINGTON D.O.T.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SAW HOW CRITICAL
THIS PROJECT WAS TO THE WEST
SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND TO THAT
NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN.
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND SECRETARY
BUTTIGIEG WE LOOKED FOR FUNDS
THAT WERE CRITICAL AND SENATOR
MURRAY, FOR PERCENTAGE I PAUL,
REPRESENTED SMITH AND I
AUTHORED A LETTER SAYING WE
WANTED SOME OF THE DOLLARS FOR
THE FREIGHT FUNDS SPECIFIED TO
HELP THE CORRIDORS THAT HAD TO
MOVE A LOT OF FREIGHT.
WE GOT $11 MILLION FROM THAT.
NOT ONLY DID THAT HELP IS ON
THE UPPER BRIDGE BUT THE LOWER
BRIDGE WHICH ALSO HAD PROBLEMS.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE BUT
THOSE DOLLARS WERE ACTUALLY
USED HELP IMPROVE THAT ORDER.
THEY ALLOWED THE CITY TO STRING
46 MILES OF 92 TONS OF STEEL
AND CABLE TO COMPRESS AND
REINFORCE THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE
THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY DOING A NEW AND GREAT
JOB COVERING THE EPOXY CRACKED
INJECTIONS IN CARBON FIBER
WRAPPING AND EVERYTHING THERE
TO STABILIZE THE BRIDGE FOR THE
FUTURE.
THE PROJECT RECEIVED MONEY FROM
THE LOCAL BRIDGE GRANT AS WELL,
$12 MILLION GRANT. THE HIGHWAY
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM AT
$7.5 MILLION AND SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION CONTRIBUTED $6.9
MILLION.
$37 MILLION ALL IN TOTAL FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY
WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT
WEST SEATTLE IS TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND TO THE ECONOMY OF
WASHINGTON STATE.
[ APPLAUSE ] OVERALL THIS
CORRIDOR CARRIES GOODS TO
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FROM 13
STATES SUPPORTING 28,000 JOBS
AND GENERATING $8.7 BILLION IN
BUSINESS OUTPUT. SO A FULLY
FUNCTIONING WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR
NATION'S ECONOMY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS AND I THANK
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND I
THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
SUNDAY IS THE DAY THAT HUNDREDS
OF PUGET SOUND RESIDENTS HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR. I'M SO GLAD
WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVING IT TO
THEM.
I HAVE NOTED THAT FIVE WEST
SEATTLE BREWERIES ALSO
COLLABORATED ON A SPECIAL IPA
TO MARK THIS OCCASION THAT WILL
BE SERVED AT A BEER GARDEN JUST
ACROSS THE WATERWAY.
THE BREWERS ARE CALLING IT
REUNITED IPA.
THEY PICKED A PERFECT NAME.
WHEN THE BRIDGE SHUT DOWN TWO
YEARS AGO IT TURNED WEST SEATTLE
INTO AN ACCIDENTAL ISLAND.
IT CUT US OFF FROM THE KEY PART
OF OUR CITY, A KEY PART OF OUR
HISTORY AND EIGHT KEY PART OF
OUR TRADITION.
FINALLY THAT WILL BE REUNITED.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE HARD
WORK AND I SO APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT THIS PROJECT IS
SEEING THE COMPLETION.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] NOW I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE CONGRESSWOMAN
JAYAPAL .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH SENATOR
MARIA CANTWELL.
IS BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH
YOU AND THE ENTIRE DELEGATION
TO MAKE SURE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DELIVERS THE MUCH
NEEDED HELP HERE IN WEST
SEATTLE.
THAT AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS THE MOMENT WE HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR.
MAYBE NOT QUITE THE MOMENT
BECAUSE IT WILL BE SUNDAY BUT
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.
I SAY THIS OBVIOUSLY AS A PROUD
RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE MYSELF
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
WE HAVE WITNESSED HOW
CHALLENGING THIS IS BEEN FOR
THE RESIDENTS OF WEST SEATTLE.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING
REALLY HOW PROUD I AM OF THE
PATIENCE, THE GRIT AND THE
DETERMINATION, THE SILVER
LININGS THAT WE LOOKED FOR WHEN
WE EXPLORED NEIGHBORHOODS WE
NEVER KNEW EXISTED IN WEST
SEATTLE TO TRY TO GET AROUND
WHAT WAS NOT HERE.
WHATEVER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE
DRIVEN ON. IT HAS REALLY BEEN A
TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT TO AN
HALF YEARS FOR THE BUSINESSES
IN WEST SEATTLE, AND FOR ALL OF
THE RESIDENTS IN WEST SEATTLE
TO BE CONNECTED TO THE REST OF
THE CITY BUT ALSO JUST TO
NAVIGATE OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS
AND TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
DEALING WITH ALL OF THE TRAFFIC
THAT CAME ALONG WITH IT.
THIS IS A JOYFUL MOMENT FOR ALL
OF US IT'S ALSO MOMENT TO SAY
TO EVERYONE ELSE ACROSS THE
CITY, COME BACK TO WEST
SEATTLE.
COME CHECK OUT THE RESTAURANTS.
COME SEE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
HELP THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH SO MUCH
WITH THE CLOSING OF THE BRIDGE
AS WELL AS COVID, AND
EXPERIENCE OUR PARKS, WALK OUR
BEACHES AND LET'S REBUILD OUR
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL PART OF SEATTLE.
MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AS WE CONTINUE TO
BUILD THAT ONE SEATTLE.
MAYOR DURKAN, YOU HAD TO DO
WITH THE HARDEST PART OF THIS
AND WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND NOT ONLY MAKING
THE DECISIONS BUT CREATING AN
INCLUSIVE PROCESS FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE OUR
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE LEADERS
THAT WERE SO IMPORTANT TO THAT.
THIS BRIDGE IS A REMINDER OF
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS ALSO THAT WE
INVEST IN OUR EXISTING CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE EARLY AND
CONTINUOUSLY.
[ APPLAUSE ] YOU CAN ACTUALLY
CLAP FOR THAT, A GOOD ONE.
TO ENSURE THE RESIDENTS OF OUR
CITY ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL WITH
MINIMUM DISRUPTION AND THAT WE
ARE NOT IN REACTIVE MODE BUT
PROACTIVE MODE AND BEFORE IT
CLOSED THE BRIDGE HAD THE
HIGHEST TRAFFIC OF ANY OTHER
STRUCTURE IN SEATTLE, CONNECTING
1/6 OF THE ENTIRE CITY INTO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, NATIONAL
HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND PORT OF
SEATTLE.
THAT IS WHY SENATOR CANTWELL AND
OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION ARE SO
PROUD ALSO OF PASSING THE ONCE
IN A GENERATION HISTORIC
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN CONGRESS
THAT REBUILDS OUR NATION'S
ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAILS,
UPGRADES OUR PORTS AND
AIRPORTS, EXPANDS ACCESS TO
CLEAN DRINKING WATER, AND
BROADBAND, WITH A PARTICULAR --
I THINK THEY WERE TRAINED FOR
THIS AS WELL.
A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON EQUITY
AND OF COURSE BRINGING BACK
GOOD UNION JOBS IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.
[ APPLAUSE ] THE LAST PRESENT
TALKED A LOT ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE BUT THIS
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT BIDEN,
WORKING WITH DEMOCRATICALLY
CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE
ACTUALLY GOT IT DONE.
THAT IS AN APPLAUSE LINE.
[ APPLAUSE ] THIS IS A WEEKEND
OF CELEBRATION.
I THINK I ESPECIALLY WANT TO
THANK THE WORKERS AND UNIONS
AND I SEE SO MANY OF OUR LABOR
LEADERS HERE WITH US TODAY THAT
WORKED DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH
TREMENDOUS SKILL AND EXPERTISE.
I ALSO CLIMBED THROUGH THE
BRIDGE AND IT MADE ME VERY
NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING ON THE
BRIDGE.
NOW I FEEL I KNOW MORE ABOUT
WHAT HOLDS UP A BRIDGE. ALL OF
THE IRON WORKERS THAT WERE
THERE, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL
TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR
UNION LEADERS AND WORKERS.
ALSO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND ALL OF OUR
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
THAT STATE, COUNTY AND CITY,
EVERY LEVEL WORKED TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
>> YOU MISSED TERESA MOSQUEDA .
>> I SAID TERESA MOSQUEDA ,
DIDN'T I? OKAY, I INTENDED TO.
AS YOUR CONGRESSMAN I WAS VERY
PROUD TO WORK WITH THE
DELEGATION.
I THINK SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG
WILL BE VERY HAPPY, SENATOR
CANTWELL, TO HAVE THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE DONE SO THAT
EVERY TIME WE SEE HIM WE DON'T
SAY TO HIM, SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG,
WE HAVE THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
MONEY HERE.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT
FOR US TO RECOMMIT TO A CITY
THAT HELPS ALL OF US TO STAY
CONNECTED, THAT HELPS OUR
BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS.
I ALSO SEE SENATOR WYNN AND TO
ALL OF US THAT WENT TO COFFEE
EVERY MORNING THE NUMBER ONE
QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING
WITH THE BRIDGE AND WHEN WILL
WE GET IT DONE.
TODAY WE SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE
TO GET IT DONE AND THE VILLAGE
OF WORKERS, UNION LEADERS,
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND MEMBERS
OF OUR CITY GOT IT DONE
TOGETHER AND THE BRIDGES BETTER
AND SAFER AND WILL ENSURE THAT
WE STAY CONNECTED AND UNIFIED
MUCH MORE SO THAN WE WERE
BEFORE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND LET'S
CELEBRATE WITH THAT IPA AND
WHATEVER ELSE WE CAN DO ALL
WEEKEND.
GO VISIT OUR BUSINESSES AND
SHOWED LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
WEST SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
I AM JORDAN, SEATTLE PACIFIC
POET, OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE.
>> THIS IS A COMMEMORATIVE POEM
WRITTEN FOR THIS DAY.
>> IF THIS BRIDGE COULD TALK.
WHEN I'M ALONE AT NIGHT, WELL,
NOT REALLY ALONE. BUT WITH ONLY
THE WEIGHT OF MYSELF BEARING
DOWN ON ME.
SOMETIMES I CRACK.
SOMETIMES I WAIT FOR THE
MOUNTAIN, A QUIET HUSH OF DAWN
BUT HUSH NEVER CAME, ONLY RUSH.
UNTIL SUDDENLY, HAS IT BEEN 900
DAYS?
I FEEL YOUR WEIGHT FROM DUSK TO
EVERY RISING LIGHT. 100,000
STORIES MOVING ACROSS ME,
RUBBING INTO THE RAISED ARCH OF
MY BAT BACK LIKE A CAT
STARTLED.
I FEEL ON TIPTOE BECAUSE THE
SPACE BETWEEN US IS TOO WIDE,
TOO UNDONE INTO TWO CUT OFF
FROM TRIBUTARIES, DANCE AND
OCCURS THROUGH SALT AND FRESH
LIKE A TONGUE SPEAKING A
LANGUAGE OF ROLLING OURS THAT
KNOWS ITSELF BEST.
BROKEN, I HAD TO BE PULLED, HAD
TO FEEL THE TENSION AND
TIGHTNESS TO RECOVER.
JUST ONE AND HOLDING THE WEIGHT
OF MYSELF.
ONE AND IN CONCRETE, A TON
STIFF LIKE A DIVING BOARD, THE
TONGUE STICKING STRAIGHT OUT
OVER THE WATER, OVER WHAT IS
NOT SAID.
LIKE A WOMAN'S TONGUE. SEE. I
AM NAMED JEANETTE.
LIKE SO MANY PLACES NAME
ABSENT, THEY CALL ME SOMETHING
ELSE INSTEAD OF HER NAME.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, A TONGUE
ANCHORED IN AIR TASTE THE OIL
LEASE GUY OIL LEAK SKY, THE SLOW
CHEW OF TRAFFIC THROUGH ITS
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SOME BRIDGES OUR BACKS LIKE A
STARTLED CAT, A CURVED ARCH,
LEGS STRAIGHTENED.
MAYBE ALWAYS KNEW THAT I WOULD
BE BROKEN ALONE WITH ONLY THE
WAIT, THE WEIGHT OF MYSELF WITH
SO FEW CROSSING BETWEEN FACTORY
PUFFS OF SMOKE AND SIDES OF THE
UNBENT RIVER.
WHEN I'M WITHOUT THE WEIGHT OF
YOU I REMEMBER THE WOMAN I AM
NAMED AFTER.
I REMEMBER WHAT I USED TO BE
CALLED.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I WELCOME CITY COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD . [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO GET A
POEM ESPECIALLY FOR THE BRIDGE
TODAY?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS WE KNOW THE SUDDEN AND VERY
NECESSARY CLOSURE OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE IN 2020 ON MARCH
23rd DEEPLY AFFECTED ALL OF US
IN DISTRICT 1. THE COMMUNITY
IMPACTED THE BRIDGE CLOSURE WAS
STARK AND HAS BEEN, ESPECIALLY
COMING RIGHT AS THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC WAS ARRIVING.
WEST SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN SUFFERING
AS WELL AS THOSE IN SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES LIKE SOUTH PARK AND
GEORGETOWN.
THE RESULT WAS ON ONLY LONGER
COMMUTES FOR WORK, MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS, SOCCER PRACTICES
AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OFF THE
PENINSULA. FOR SOME IT MEANT
LESS TIME SPENT WITH FAMILY,
FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.
THE CONCEPT OF REUNITIG WEST
SEATTLE, COMING OFF OF THE GOLD
TO RECONNECT WITH SEATTLE, I
THINK IS VERY APT.
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING WAS NEEDED
QUICKLY FOR THE PROJECT.
FORMER MAYOR DURKAN AND CITY
COUNCIL NEVER WAVERED AND IN
PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUNDING
IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN MY SCRIPT
BUT I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO
FORGET WHAT A BIG DECISION THAT
MAYOR DURKAN HAD BETWEEN THE
CHOICE OF REPLACING THE BRIDGE
OR REPAIRING IT.
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF
IT WERE NOT FOR HER STEADFAST
LEADERSHIP IN MAKING THAT
DECISION.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO REALLY
RECOGNIZE NOT JUST THE CURRENT
COLLEAGUES BUT MY PAST
COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL FOR
STEADFAST SUPPORT FOR THE
BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT AND
MITIGATING THE IMPACT TO
COMMUNITIES AND RECOGNIZE THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE AND MANY THANKS AS
WELL TO FORMER SDOT DIRECTOR
SAM ZIMBABWE.
THE WOMAN I CALLED THE BRIDGE
FALSE, HEATHER MARKS, AND
EVERYONE AT SDOT.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS CHANGED
SHARPLY AFTER THE BRIDGE
CLOSURE WITH SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES ON THE TOWARD ROUTES
AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN
PORTION OF THE WESTERN
PENINSULA.
I SEE NODDING HEADS OF THE
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOUTH PARK.
TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT THE CITY
BUILT 400 PROJECTS AND INVESTED
$20 MILLION IN THE PROJECTS.
[ APPLAUSE ] THESE PROJECTS,
LIKE THE ONES WE CALL HOME
ZONES, INVESTMENTS NOT ONLY
THAT HELPED PEOPLE GET THROUGH
THE CLOSURE AND ENHANCED SAFETY
BUT ALSO IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL
REMAIN WITH SAFER PLACES TO
WALK AND ACROSS THE STREET,
ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL TREES.
I WANT TO THANK OUR FEDERAL
DELEGATION FOR THEIR INCREDIBLY
NECESSARY AND DILIGENT WORK FOR
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
I RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF
REPRESENTATIVE JAYAPAL THAT IN
SHORT ORDER SPOKE ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR ABOUT THE NEED FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING AND SENATOR
CANTWELL FOR HER BUDGET
ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING BRIDGE
DOERS AND DECISION-MAKERS.
LASTLY, RECOGNIZING THE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK OF
THE FOLKS PHYSICALLY DOING THE
WORK.
THE ORGANIZED LABOR IN
SUPPORTING THEM.
I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT SO I WILL
NOT STEAL THEIR THUNDER BUT IT
MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT WE
WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF NOT
FOR THE FACT THAT THE TEAMSTERS
AGREED, DESPITE NEGOTIATIONS
IMPASSE, AGREED TO DO THE WORK
ON DELIVERING THE CONCRETE FOR
THE BRIDGE.
THANK YOU TO THEM.
IT IS A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR DOING
THIS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
OUR PORT COMMISSIONER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
I AM PORT OF SEATTLE
COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED AND I AM
GLAD TO WELCOME Y'ALL TO GO
TERMINAL 18 ON THIS IMPORTANT
DAY CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD GROUPS IN
WEST SEATTLE.
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
HERE AND DID A RUNNING START AT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO A SHOUT OUT TO THE WEST
SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND THOSE
THAT LIVE AT WHITE CENTER.
THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF WEST SEATTLE AND
EVERYONE IN OUR REGION AND I
WANT TO THANK THE MANY GREAT
CHAMPIONS THAT HELP US REACH
TODAY THE CITY OF SEATTLE, OUR
STATE LEGISLATORS, AND SENATOR
JOHN WHEN, OUR LABOR PARTNERS
AND BUSINESSES AND THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE IS A KEY PART OF
THE COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS OUR
INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY.
AT THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT
ALLIANCE WE ARE FOCUSED ON
PRESERVING THE COMPETITIVENESS.
THERE YOU GO WITH MORE SHOUT
OUTS FOR US.
AT THE NORTH WEST SEAPORT
ALLIANCE WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE
COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR GATEWAY.
WE KNOW OPERATIONAL MARITIME
CARGO TERMINALS FOR ACCESS FOR
FREIGHT AND WORKERS IS CRITICAL
TO GETTING OUR GOODS TO
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND
SUPPORTING FAMILY WAGE JOBS.
[ APPLAUSE ] LOCATED IN THE
SHADOW OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE TERMINAL 5 HAS BEEN
CONSIDERED A PRIME WEST COAST
CARGO FACILITY.
TERMINAL 5 BECAME A RELIEF
DURING THE SUPPLY CHAIN
DISRUPTIONS OVER THE PAST TWO
YEARS PROVIDING NEEDED
CONTAINER CARGO WHILE THE
TERMINAL WAS BEING MODERNIZED
AND SUPPLYING KEY VESSEL
CAPACITY WHEN THE TERMINAL
REOPENED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
TERMINAL 5 AND WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE ARE IMPORTANT ASSETS TO
GLOBAL TRADE . THE PORT OF
SEATTLE IS GLAD THAT WE INVESTED
$9 MILLION TOWARD THE BRIDGE
IMPROVEMENT.
WE KNOW THAT INVESTING IN
INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS INCREASING
CARGO VOLUME, AND MARITIME JOBS
IN OUR REGION. WE HAVE
APPRECIATE IT OUR PARTNERING
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO NOT
ONLY SUPPORT THE REPAIR OF THE
BRIDGE BUT ALSO TO ENSURE
ACCESS TO AND FROM KEY MARITIME
FACILITIES DURING CONSTRUCTION
AND EXPANDING TRUCK PARKING
ACCESS IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
LEADERSHIP OF MANY THAT BROUGHT
US HERE TODAY AND WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO KEEP
OUR ECONOMY GROWING AND TO KEEP
THE GOODS MOVING THROUGHOUT OUR
REGION.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND NOW I
HAVE THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE
MONTY ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY OF BUILDING TRADES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS MONTY ANDERSON.
I HAVE THE PROUD DISTINCTION OF
REPRESENTING OVER 20,000 WOMEN
AND MEN IN KING COUNTY THAT
BUILT THE BRIDGE.
WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT
PATIENCE AND TWO AND HALF YEARS
FOR THIS BRIDGE.
I GET IT AND I'VE BEEN WAITING
ON 20 YEARS FOR THE MARINERS TO
GO TO THE PLAYOFFS SO NOT THAT
BIG OF A WAIT FOR ME, BUT I AM
HANGING IN THERE.
BUT ANYWAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
PROJECTS, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT
OUT FOR GLORY.
WE DO OUR JOBS AND GO HOME
EVERY DAY.
WE ARE PROFESSIONALS.
SO IN ORDER TO BE AROUND ALL OF
THE GREAT LEADERS LIKE THIS IS
AN HONOR FOR US.
WE WORKED OVER 67,000 HOURS ON
THE BRIDGE.
OVER ONE THIRD OF THOSE HOURS
WERE NOT PARTY HIGHER, 21%
APPRENTICESHIP.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE IS A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN SEATTLE THAT
JUST LIKE EVERYBODY HERE
REMEMBERS THEIR FIRST JOB WHERE
YOU GOT YOUR START.
OR SOMEONE BELIEVED IN YOU.
SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO MENTOR
YOU, EDUCATE YOU AND MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ARE SAFE.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
THIS STUFF DOES NOT HAPPEN
ORGANICALLY.
THE IRON WORKERS AND LABORERS,
ELECTRICIANS WORKED REALLY HARD
IN PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TO LIFT
UP THE MOST WONDERFUL AROUND
SEATTLE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS FOR
THAT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND IN THE
COUNTY, THE PORT, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
IT REALLY IS AN ECOSYSTEM
AROUND HERE THAT MAKES IT SUCH
A WONDERFUL PROJECT.
WSDOT DID THE SAME THING ON THE
TUNNELS LIKE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS DONE IT.
WE SEE THAT RIGHT HERE.
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
HOURS GOING INTO MIDDLE-CLASS
PEOPLE'S POCKETS TO PERFORM
WORK IN SEATTLE AND WE COULD
NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THAT.
[ APPLAUSE ] I WANT TO END BY
SAYING WHAT WE HAVE GOING HERE
IS A GOOD THING.
WE PERFORM A LOT OF HOURS HERE.
TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE
HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN UP
THERE THAT WORKED ON THE
PROJECT IS A REAL HONOR.
IT IS ALSO IN HONOR OF MIND
INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE THAT I
CALL MY UNION SISTER, KATIE
GARRETT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KATIE, EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY OF TREASURE FOR HIM
OKAY LABOR THAT REPRESENTS
ä50,000 UNION MEMBERS IN KING
COUNTY.
[ APPLAUSE ] INCLUDING I WANT
TO HONOR AND THANK THE
BROADCAST PROFESSIONALS HERE.
WE VALUE OF FREE AND FAIR MEDIA
SYSTEM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT
YOU DO.
[ APPLAUSE ] THIS WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT IS A
PRODUCT OF THE HANDS AND MINDS
OF HUNDREDS OF UNION MEMBERS,
LABORED FROM THE IRON WORKERS
THAT PLACED THE REBAR TO THE
ENGINEERS THAT REVIEWED THE
PLANS, TO THE COMMUNICATORS
THAT GOT THE WORD OUT ABOUT
SCHEDULE CHANGES AND PLANNING.
THE BRIDGE IS A CRITICAL
CORRIDOR FOR THOUSANDS OF UNION
MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE THAT COMMUTE ACROSS THE
BRIDGE TO RUN OUR HOSPITALS,
OUR SUPERMARKETS AND OUR
SCHOOLS.
ALL OF WHOM ARE UNION WORKERS.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND
ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT A GREAT RELIEF
THE OPENING OF THE BRIDGE IS
GOING TO HAVE ON OUR SUPPLY
CHAIN AND ON THE FOLKS THAT
WORK HERE ON THE WATERFRONT,
LONGSHOREMEN, TEAMSTERS,
RAILROAD WORKERS THAT JUST GOT
A DEAL.
[ APPLAUSE ] YOU CAN CLAP FOR
THAT TOO.
THANK GOD THE RAILROAD IS NOT
GOING TO SHUT DOWN.
AT ANY RATE THIS BRIDGE REPAIR
PROJECT, COMING TO A CLOSE,
GOING TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON
OUR LOCAL CON MEN.
THE LOCAL ECONOMIES WORKERS,
WORKING FAMILIES.
THIS IS A GREAT DAY.
I WAS HONORED TO BE PART OF THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE TASK FORCE
AND THEREFORE LEAD AND THAT WORK
WITH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF
STAKEHOLDER AND AND DELIBERATION
WHICH WAS LED BY GREG NICHOLS
AND PAULINA LOPEZ THAT WILL
CLOSE US OUT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
IT IS SO GREAT TO BE HERE. IT'S
ALMOST SUNDAY BUT WE ARE
CELEBRATING A GREAT MOMENT.
IT IS THE OPENING OF A LONG,
LONG WAIT. ONE WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO CELEBRATE IN OUR SEATTLE
BEAUTIFUL SUQUAMISH RIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M HONORED ALSO THAT TODAY IS
A CELEBRATION FOR THE
INDEPENDENCE OF MEXICO.
SO WHAT A GREAT DAY TO BE
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE.
ALSO BECAUSE I MAKE IT RELEVANT
THAT STARTING SUNDAY HOPEFULLY
WE WILL BE INDEPENDENT FROM THAT
100,000 VEHICLES COMING THROUGH
OUR COMMUNITY INTO THE SO WE
AMISH VALLEY.
THAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF WHY
I'M HERE.
WHEN MAYOR DURKAN CALLED ME
BACK IN JUNE 2020 AND SAID I
KNEW SOMETHING WAS COMING WHEN
SHE CALLED ME DIRECTLY TO MY
PHONE TO GIVE ME THESE SPECIAL
TASKS OF ASKING IF I WOULD
COCHAIRED THIS IMPORTANT
ENDEAVOR.
I SAID OF COURSE BECAUSE I HAVE
A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH
BRIDGES.
SO WE CELEBRATED NINE YEARS OF
BEING CLOSED FOR THREE YEARS.
I HAD A LOT OF FEAR FOR THIS
BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT A
CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITY IT WAS,
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD TO
REALLY READ A LOT AND
UNDERSTAND TECHNICAL ENGINEERING
, DIFFICULT DOCUMENTS.
I DO WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATED FROM ALL OF THE
PEOPLE AT SDOT . WITH YOUR
LEADERSHIP, MAYOR DURKAN, OF
HAVING A VISION OF REALLY
INVOLVING COMMUNITY.
WHEN COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED
COMMUNITY SHOULD BE LEADING.
WE KNOW WHAT IMPACTS US
DIRECTLY.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US.
THE SUQUAMISH VALLEY, HOW CAN
WE BRING ADDITIONAL AIR
POLLUTION TO A COMMUNITY
ALREADY IMPACTED WITH
GEORGETOWN, SOUTH PARK, MARKED
BY SO MUCH POLLUTION AND HOW
WILL WE MITIGATE THAT?
OF COURSE KUDOS TO THE FEDERAL
AND STATE GOVERNMENT, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAD TO BE
TOGETHER BUT THROUGH MANY HOURS
OF OUR COMMUNITY TASK FORCE,
PUTTING TOGETHER OUR BRAINS TO
DECIDE WHETHER REPAIR OR
REBUILD.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING
AND HOW WILL THE BEST BE FOR
THE OVERALL ACTING WITH THE
GOAL WE HAVE.
SPENDING HUNDREDS OF HOURS BUT
MOST IMPORTATLY HOW THE
COMMUNITY QUICKLY BEING WHAT
THEY DESERVE WITH THE
MITIGATION OF TRAFFIC, HEALTH
AND SAFETY.
WE DID THAT TOGETHER AND I WANT
US TO BE VERY PROUD WITH ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE,
THAT WERE PART OF ALL OF THOSE
MEETINGS OVER ZOOM.
THIS WAS HAPPENING TO COVID.
THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL
CHALLENGE IN ITSELF.
I THINK WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF
THANK YOU'S ALREADY BUT I WANT
TO SAY THAT THE MEETINGS
HAPPENED, PRE-MEETINGS BEFORE
THE MEETINGS.
ALSO WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH,
MAKING SHEPHERD AND BILL THAT
ARE HERE, AND UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF SAM ZIMBABWE.
THEY NEVER HESITATED TO ANSWER
UNKNOWN QUESTIONS WE WOULD ASK.
BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR
US TO MAKE IT EASY.
TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND
LISTEN TO ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS WE HAVE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ACTIONS WE
NEEDED TO MEDICATE MITIGATE ALL
OF THE TRAFFIC TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAD AN UNDERSTANDING AND
ACTIONS TOWARDS MITIGATING ALL
OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HOURS
THAT YOU SPENT WITH US AS WELL.
AND OUR YOUTH CORPS THAT WAS
THERE, PLANTING 300 TREES
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE
SUQUAMISH VALLEY. TAKING
ADVANTAGE ON HOW CAN WE MAKE
SDOT AND THE CITY UNDERSTAND
ALL THE BENEFITS IT COULD BRING
US I HOPE THAT ALL OF THE WEST
SEATTLE PEOPLE THAT STOPPED BY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO PASS BY
COME BACK AND GIVE BUSINESS TO
OUR BUSINESSES.
WE UNDERSTAND OUR PEOPLE LEAVING
, AND PEOPLE LIVE IN THE
SUQUAMISH VALLEY.
WE WELCOME YOU TO SPEND YOUR
MONEY AND TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY
GREAT NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE
BRIDGE BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.
>> SO MUCH WISDOM THAT I SPEND
WITH MY COCHAIR AND I HAVE TWO
GIVE THE HONOR OF THAT SO THANK
YOU FOR COCHAIRING WITH ME,
MAYOR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE COME TO THE POINT IN
THE AGENDA WHERE EVERYTHING HAS
BEEN SAID, BUT NOT GET SAID BY
EVERYBODY.
I'M THE LAST SPEAKER ON THE
PROGRAM.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SUNDAY
MARKS 910 DAYS THAT THE BREACH
HAS BEEN CLOSED.
910 DAYS.
SHARON AND I HAVE WELCOMED TWO
NEW GRANDCHILDREN DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
I AM NOT HERE TODAY TO COMPLAIN
OR REMINISCE AS TO THE
DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ALL HAVE
FACED. TODAY IS THE DAY TO SAY
THANK YOU.
IMAGINE BEING THE STAFF PERSON,
THE FIELD PERSON THAT SAW THESE
CRACKS AND SAID BOSS, I THINK
WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE.
IMAGINE BEING THAT PERSON'S
SUPERVISOR THAT GOT TO CALL THE
MAYOR AND SAY MAYOR, WE HAVE
GOT A PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO CLOSE THIS BRIDGE
IMMEDIATELY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THAT CHAIR.
I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS LIKE THAT
BUT NOT THAT EXACT CALLS,
THANKFULLY.
WE DEALT WITH THE DANGEROUS
ALASKAN VIADUCT AND OTHER
CHALLENGES DURING MY TIME.
I CAN IMAGINE THAT AFTER MAYOR
DURKAN GOT SCRAPED OFF OF THE
CEILING THAT SHE WENT TO WORK
AND THE PEOPLE OF SDOT WENT TO
WORK TO CATALOG THE PROBLEM.
HOW BAD IS THIS AND HOW ARE WE
GOING TO DEAL WITH IT?
I THINK THE STAFF AT SDOT THAT
HAVE WORKED SO HARD.
YOU GET THE CALLS FROM PEOPLE
THAT WERE FRUSTRATED. I KNOW I
HAVE GOTTEN A FEW.
YOU DESERVE THE COMMUNITY'S
GREAT THANKS.
[ APPLAUSE ] WILL THE SDOT
STAFF PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND,
IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TODAY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] I THANK THE PEOPLE
WEST SEATTLE THAT HAVE LIVED
FOR 910 DAYS WITHOUT THEIR MAIN
CONNECTION TO THE REST OF THE
CITY.
MOST OF YOU HAVE DONE THAT WITH
GRACE, AND DONE IT SAFELY.
IF YOU HAVE NOT.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART OUR
NEIGHBORS LET EACH OTHER IN
WHEN THE LANES CONSTRICT.
WE TAKE OUR TURNS AND WE TRY TO
FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT,
ALTHOUGH THAT SPEED LIMIT IS
AWFULLY LOW THESE DAYS.
[ LAUGHTER ] BUT WE BY AND
LARGE MADE IT WORK THROUGH
SHARED SACRIFICE.
I THANK THE FOLKS OF SOUTH PARK
, GEORGETOWN, AND SOUTH DELRIDGE
THAT TOOK THE BRUNT OF OUR
COMING THROUGH YOUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ON OUR WAY
WHEREVER IT WAS THAT WE NEEDED
TO GO.
THAT WAS AN IMPOSITION ON YOU
BUT YOU DEALT WITH IT I THINK IN
FINE FASHION.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE WILL HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO
VISIT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS BUT TO
ENJOY SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS,
AND OTHER THINGS THAT WILL
BENEFIT ALL OF US NOW THAT WE
KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT ALL IS
ALONG THAT ROUTE.
I WANT TO TANK THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS, MAYOR DURKAN, AS
MENTIONED, MAYOR HARRELL WHEN
HE TOOK OFFICE.
WERE WELL INTO THIS PROCESS BUT
HE SAID KEEP GOING.
WE NEED TO HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY
INFORMED, AND WE NEED TO KNOW
WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING
OUT THERE, SO THANK YOU MAYOR
HARRELL, AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM
HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.
[ APPLAUSE ] FINALLY I WANT TO
ASK ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE TASK FORCE, TO
RAISE YOUR HANDS.
[ APPLAUSE ] THESE FOLKS ARE
IMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.
THEY SPENT THEIR TIME AT THE
BEGINNING AND EVERY WEDNESDAY.
THAT'S EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON.
THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE
AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY AND WERE WILLING
TO TAKE THEIR TIME.
IT WAS 730 DAYS FROM THE FIRST
MEETING TO OUR FINAL MEETING.
THEY DID THAT IN GOOD HUMOR. WE
MADE A DIFFERENCE.
WE SAID, FOR INSTANCE, SDOT, WE
NEED TO HAVE A WAY FOR PEOPLE
SEEKING LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT
TO GET TO THEIR HOSPITALS AND
THEIR CAREGIVERS WITHOUT HAVING
TO GO THROUGH AN HOUR DELAY.
SDOT SAID I DON'T THINK WE CAN
DO THAT BUT WE SAID SDOT, YOU
ARE GOING TO DO IT.
THEY FOUND A WAY TO DO IT AND
DID IT IN A WAY THAT WORKED.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT FIRST HAND
IN THAT A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENDOMETRIAL
CANCER AND NEEDED RADIATION
TREATMENT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS.
THEY NEEDED CHEMO.
IT MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE NOT
TO HAVE TO GO FOR AN HOUR TO
GET TO AND FROM WHEN SHE WAS
FEELING SO BAD.
THANK YOU FOR FINDING A WAY.
THERE WERE MANY OTHER INSTANCES
WHERE WE HAD IDEAS, MOST OF
WHICH WERE REALLY GOOD.
[ LAUGHTER ] SDOT WOULD SAY
HERE IS THE PRACTICAL
IMPLICATION OF THAT BUT THEY
WOULD FIND A WAY TO GET IT
DONE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
TASK FORCE.
YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE AND MADE
IT MORE LIVABLE TO GET THROUGH
THESE 910 DAYS, AND YOU DID IT
ON YOUR OWN DIME, YOUR OWN TIME
AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY
BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
ENJOYED THE BRIDGE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL
OF OUR LEADERS FOR YOUR REMARKS
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AS A BRAND-NEW SEATTLEITE I AM
MOVED BY THE RESILIENCE AND
COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A VERY HARD THING THAT
WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH.
LET'S TAKE THE SPIRIT OF
TOGETHERNESS FORWARD INTO ALL
OF THE CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD IN
TRANSPORTATION AND BEYOND.
JUST A FEW CLOSING REMARKS AND
ADDITIONAL THANK YOU'S.
I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT IN
TRANSPORTATION I LIKE TO CO-
CREATE PROJECTS WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
IT'S REALLY NEAT THAT THE
RECONNECT WEST SEATTLE PROGRAM
DID EXACTLY THAT, FINDING OUT
FROM THE COMMUNITY WHAT IS THE
BEST WAY WE COULD USE THE VERY
LIMITED TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY
TO WEST SEATTLE FOR THE PEOPLE
OF THE HIGHEST NEED, AND HOW WE
CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO OUR
STREETSCAPE TO SUPPORT THAT.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO RECOGNIZE KRAMER NORTH
AMERICA, OUR CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTOR.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND ADAM DUYER FOR
MANAGING THE PROJECT WHICH IS A
BIG PROJECT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO WSP
AND GREG BANKS, BRIDGES
ENGINEER OF RECORD BECAUSE THAT
IS A HEAVY BURDEN, MAKING THOSE
ENGINEERING JUDGMENTS AND
KEEPING US SAFE.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
SDOT STAFF HERE TODAY.
HEATHER , MEGHAN, MATT,
KRISTEN, FRANCISCO, RODNEY,
DAWN AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.
LITERALLY WE HAVE HEALING TO DO
AMONG OUR STAFF THAT DUG VERY
DEEP DURING THE PANDEMIC WHILE
ALSO TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF
THEIR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING THE
CALL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
[ APPLAUSE ] HEATHER MARX, ALL
OF US ARE DEMANDING THAT YOU
TAKE NEXT WEEK OFF, OKAY?
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT JAMIE WILL COME UP TO
HELP US TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE
MEDIA.
>> WHEN YOU GET THIS MANY
CAMERAS HERE IT'S EITHER
USUALLY VERY GOOD NEWS ARE VERY
BAD NEWS.
SAFELY THIS IS GOOD NEWS TODAY.
I HAVE TWO REQUESTS. WE HAVE
ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL BE
RESPECTFUL AND ONLY ASK ON-
TOPIC QUESTIONS, INTO OUR
ELECTED LEADERS, PLEASE BE
CONCISE.
WITH THAT I WILL TAKE THE FIRST
QUESTION FROM TRACY RECORD THAT
HAS DONE SO MUCH AMAZING WORK
COVERING WEST SEATTLE IN THE
BRIDGE OVER THE LAST TWO AND
HALF YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ANY CITY
REPRESENTATIVE, PAST OR
PRESENT.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF WORDS OF
THANKS BUT WE'VE NOT HEARD
ANYTHING ABOUT THE APOLOGY FOR
THE FACT THAT THE BRIDGE HAD
THE BREAK IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WOULD ANYONE CARE TO SHARE
WORDS OF APOLOGY?
>> APOLOGIES.
>> I DID NOT HEAR FORMER MAYOR
DURKAN OR MARY NICKLES JUMPED
TO THE MICROPHONE ON THAT ONE.
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I WILL GIVE
YOUR QUESTION THE SERIOUSNESS
THAT IT DESERVES.
THE QUESTION WAS CAN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE ISSUE AN APOLOGY FOR
WHAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED FOR
HAT HAPPENED TO THE
I HOPE THAT MY REMARKS WAS AN
APOLOGY IN ONE OF THANKS FOR
WHAT THEY HAD TO ENDURE.
I APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY.
THAT DOES NOT COST ME ANYTHING
TO SAY THAT. I
AM ASKING THE CITY THAT I LOVE
SO MUCH AND I'M SURE MANY
PEOPLE YOUR LOVE SO MUCH TO
GIVE LEADERS GRACE SOMETIMES.
GIVE THEM GRACE.
ASSUME THAT THEIR HEARTS ARE IN
THE RIGHT PLACE.
ASSUME THAT THEY ARE
INTELLECTUALLY STRONG AND
PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY.
THAT THEY ARE HUMAN AND MAKE
MISTAKES.
IF THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A
MISTAKE, WE THANK OUR LEADERS
FOR THEIR SERVICE. WE ARE NOT
AFRAID TO SAY WE ARE SORRY AND
THAT WE APOLOGIZE.
IF THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND
I WILL SHARE THAT WITH THEM.
BUT ALSO REALIZE THIS IS TOUGH
WORK THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR.
YOUR POWER IS HOW YOU VOTE. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT WE
APOLOGIZE AS A CITY BUT WHAT
THIS HAS CAUSED.
WE ARE BUILDING ONE SEATTLE
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> REPAIR VERSUS REPLACE.
I WILL LEAVE THIS QUESTION TO
NATALIE.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT REPAIR
VERSUS REPLACE AND THAT BEING A
DIFFICULT DECISION.
ARE YOU CONFIDENT TODAY IT WAS
THE RIGHT CALL TO PREPARE?
>> YES.
IN MY REMARKS I TRIED TO THANK
BOTH DIRECTORS, SAM ZIMBABWE
AND SDOT AND MAYOR DURKAN FOR
MAKING THE RIGHT CALL.
THERE WERE MANY WAYS TO GO AND
RECENT ARTICLES FOR OPTIONS
THAT NEEDED TO BE EXPLORED.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS A
GOOD COMBINATION PEOPLE TRYING
TO STAY IN THEIR LANE AND DEFER
TO THE EXPERTS.
IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION THAT
WAS MADE WHICH IS WHY WE ARE
STANDING HERE AGAIN WITH A
SAFE, EFFECTIVE MEANS OF
TRANSPORTATION IN THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
>> JACKIE.
>> IS THERE ANY GUARANTEE THAT
THESE REPAIRS WILL KEEP THE
CRACKS FROM RESURFACING AND
SUPPORT THE LIFESPAN? [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> USED A WORD I AM NOT
FAMILIAR WITH, GUARANTEE.
WHAT DOES THAT WORD MEAN?
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I WILL ASK
IF SOMEBODY WAS TO CLARIFY MY
ANSWERED, A SUBJECT-MATTER
EXPERT.
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE A
VERY SENSITIVE MONITORING
SYSTEM BY WHICH ON A REAL-TIME
BASIS THAT IS MONITORING DURING
THE REPAIR, DURING THE
CONSTRUCTION AND CERTAINLY
DURING ITS USE.
BASED ON THE REAL-TIME
MONITORING SYSTEM WE HAVE A
HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THIS
IS AN EFFECTIVE REPAIR. OF
COURSE THERE ARE STANDARDS IN
PLACE THAT WE MONITOR AGAINST
THAT WE ARE MEETING OUR
STANDARDS.
WE GO INTO SUNDAY WITH A HIGH
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE SAFE.
OF COURSE WE DO NOT GUARANTEE
BUT WE MONITOR, AND THEN WE
PUSH THE OUTCOMES WE WANT.
SO WE WILL MONITOR CLOSELY AND
WE OWE THE CITY THAT.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM A PLACE TO
DO THAT MONITORING.
>> I THOUGHT I BLUFFED A PRETTY
GOOD ANSWER, GREG.
>> I LIKE YOUR ANSWER.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT AS WE
GO FORWARD AND SDOT WILL MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE,
SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY TO BRING
A MODERATE ASSET MANAGEMENT
APPROACH TO THE PORTFOLIO
BRIDGES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ESTIMATING THE LIFECYCLE OF
EACH BRIDGE.
ALSO WHAT INTERVENTIONS ARE
NEEDED AND WHAT TIME TO
MAINTAIN THE LIFECYCLE EXPECTED.
THIS PARTICULAR BRIDGE NOW HAS
THE MOST HIGH-TECH REAL-TIME
MONITORING OF ANY BREACH IN
SEATTLE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE QUITE
CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
DETECT ANY PERFORMANCE
ANOMALIES IN THIS BRIDGE IN A
WAY THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN WITH
OTHER BRIDGES.
BUT IT WILL BE A VERY HIGH
PRIORITY OF MINE IN LEADING
SDOT INTO THE FUTURE TO
STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE ALL OF
OUR PRACTICES PERTAINING TO
MANAGING THE BRIDGE NETWORK.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. WE ARE
DONE.
WE ARE CLOSED AND THANK YOU
EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.