Posted on August 30, 2020
SEATTLE — City officials announced Wednesday that removal of Pier 58, also known as Waterfront Park, will begin within one to two weeks after engineers concluded that the pier has moved away from the seawall and could pose a hazard.
The removal was put in motion after Mayor Jenny Durkan approved emergency plans last week for the work. paving the way for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department to hire a private engineering firm to complete inspection of the pier.
The City has hired Orion Marine Contractors, Inc to perform the $4.3 million job, which was not subject to competitive bidding because of the emergency designation by the city.
“Working closely with Seattle Parks and Recreation, we’ve moved swiftly since this issue was identified earlier this month,” Marshall Foster, director of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, said in a written statement. “Public safety is always our top priority. We’re committed to removing the deteriorated pier quickly, clearing the way for the new park to take shape.”
Orion Marine Contractors, Inc is a maritime contractor with a workforce based in their Tacoma, WA regional office. They are currently working on SDOT’s Fairview Ave N Bridge Replacement and with Port of Seattle on the Terminal 5 Modernization Project.
Pier 58 is located between the piers which hold the Seattle Aquarium, Miner’s Landing, and the Great Wheel. The effort to remove the pier is expected to include planning to help minimize the economic impacts on those attractions.
The City says replacement for Pier 58 was already planned and funded because of the pier’s age. Construction to remove the pier and build a new public park was planned previously.
City officials said the removal of the pier was expected to occur mainly from the waterside, with barges positioned west of the structure. Because of the waterside access, impacts to nearby businesses and the public are expected to be limited, the city statement said.
According to city officials, the work is expected to include salvaging furniture, art and the existing fountain, removing concrete structures, timber decking and framing, and the extraction of piles supporting the structure. The Fitzgerald Fountain will be salvaged and reincorporated into the new Pier 58, officials said.
The City is working to quickly complete the necessary environmental permits and authorizations for the pier removal.
Source: katu.com
