GATEWAY IS BACK. City crews reinstall one of the "Ballard Gateway" sculptures at the entrance to the Ballard Bridge. The sculptures were removed in February 2006 due to damage caused by a windstorm.
Photo by Michael Harthorne
After nearly two and a half years, Ballard has its gateway back.
Last week (on Sept. 16 and 17), Seattle Department of Transportation crews reinstalled eight sculptures, known as the "Ballard Gateway," that lined 15th Avenue Northwest leading to the Ballard Bridge.
The sculptures were removed in February 2006 after the anchoring brackets for two of the pieces were damaged in a windstorm.
The city decided to remove all eight sculptures and improve their bases in order to make them safer and more resilient said Lori Patrick, public relations manager for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Patrick said the sculptures should now be able to withstand a similar windstorm.
The city had hoped to have the "Ballard Gateway" back up early this summer, but repairs took longer than expected, she said.
The sculptures, originally installed in 2003, were designed by Tom Askman and Lea Anne Lake to reflect pieces of Ballard's history.
Michael Harthorne can be reached at 783-1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com
