Co-chairs have been named to head a new task force to help in deciding what to do about the damaged West Seattle Bridge, which has been closed since March 23.
Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Duwamish River community advocate Paulina Lopez will serve as co-chairs of a 21-member task force. It includes representatives from neighborhoods, small business and the maritime industry. Seattle also has formed a seven-member technical committee of engineers that will exchange information with the citizen group.
Nickels said he expects the task force will continue until the city chooses a repair method, and then a replacement, for the 157-foot-high concrete bridge. Removal of the bridge that served 125,000 daily travelers is bound to impact retailers on both ends of the bridge for several years as commuters find new routes across the Duwamish River.
