The 2007 Bicycle Master Plan called for a new biking and walking bridge to the west of the current Ballard Bridge, which is among the worst bicycle facilities in the city. Now, the city is beginning a study to try to assess what opportunities exist for widening the sidewalks.
Tom Fucoloro from Seattle Bike Blog informs the Ballard News-Tribune that the city is beginning a study to try to assess what opportunities exist for widening the sidewalks on the Ballard Bridge. The study, which is at least five months from completion, will look at three things:
-Is there some way to widen the sidewalk within the existing space? For example, can we shave off those concrete pillars that jut into the sidewalk?
- Is it possible to widen the sidewalks? This will require a study to see if the structure can support such an expansion.
- If the structure can support a widened sidewalk, the study will assess what sort of environmental studies, etc would be required.
The 2007 Bicycle Master Plan called for a new biking and walking bridge to the west of the current Ballard Bridge, which is among the worst bicycle facilities in the city and one of the top large project priorities for the bicycle network.
This plan has not been designed or significantly studied, but it would certainly be costly as a similar design for the proposed walking and biking bridge over I-5 in Northgate is estimated to be $20 million.
