The Warren Avenue Bridge multimodal project has been set on a new path after the Bremerton City Council approved an alternative design affected by anticipated budget constraints.
The new design, presented as Alternative 7 by the city's public works department, will still extend the bridge’s current three and a half-foot walkways, creating a 12-foot path on the east side and a five-foot path on the west side.
The council previously adopted their own custom ‘Alternative X’ in August, compromising on an original desire for 12-foot paths on either side and reducing that down to 12 (east side) and eight feet (west). The council was forced to compromise further after Public Works and Utilities director Tom Knuckey informed the council in a letter on March 26 that Alternative X was no longer affordable due to the possible repeal of the Climate Commitment Act in November, which accounted for $500,000 in state funding for the project’s original $27 million budget.
Council members thoroughly debated Alternative 7, for 12-foot and five-foot paths, and Alternative 1, for matching eight-foot paths, at a study session on April 10. The representatives eventually settled on Alternative 7, which was set for a vote on Wednesday after the public had an opportunity to comment.
“Thank you, Council, for your support of a 12-foot path on the east side of the Warren Avenue Bridge – you understand the safety issues for walkers, pedestrians, and for cyclists and people who use wheelchairs,” said Dianne Iverson, who was a member of the Warren Avenue Bridge stakeholders committee. “This bridge design will put Bremerton on the map as a more livable city that encourages all of us to walk, bike, and roll.”
There were few community members who took to the podium to submit public comment, though there were voices supporting both alternatives.
“The problem with five feet is that it basically makes it useless and dangerous,” said Mike Hu, who was worried that people wouldn’t traverse to the smaller walkway because there aren’t convenient cross-points near the bridge’s mouth. “Moving all the traffic on one side, you only have six feet and six feet. But, the beauty of having wide enough roads on either pathways on either side, is that people can travel with the traffic. There's nothing worse and more intimidating and dangerous than looking at cars coming eye to eye.”
Alternative 7 has a total estimated cost of $24.8 million, lower than the project’s current $26.5 million budget. The resolution, unanimously approved by the Council following public comment, makes provisions that any residual or additional funding will go toward connectors to the new pathways.
“A lot of heart and soul, a lot of time, a lot of anger and disagreements amongst each other, a lot of frustrations with staff, with WSDOT, with community members of us, too,” said Council President Jennifer Chamberlin. “I'm excited that something is being resolved today and that we're moving towards a shared positive path.”
The project is one step closer to completion, but is several years down the road from completion. The $25 million allocated for construction in the Warren Avenue Bridge’s budget extends through the 2027 to 2029 biennium.
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