A-List politicians and dignitaries congregated at the southern end of the former South Park Bridge to announce that the TIGER II grant of $34 million was just secured and now there are enough funds secured to build a new South Park Bridge just feet downstream from the old bridge. The new bridge estimate is $131 million.

The South Park Bridge was closed on June 30, 2010. The reason given was that structurally, the bridge was deteriorating at such a rapid rate that it was no longer safe to operate. Demolition of the bridge began in August, 2010. The new bridge is shovel-ready and construction will begin immediately, to the relief of local commuters and merchants who rely on business from the other side of the bridge.

While speeches were given to thank many involved in raising the funds, there were many pleas to ask voters to back Sen. Murray for her help with this project, and others statewide.

Here is the breakdown:

TIGER II grant: $34 million
State of Washington: $20 million
King County: $30 million
City of Seattle: $15 million
Puget Sound Regional Council: $15 million
State Transportation Improvement Board: $10 million
Port of Seattle: $5 million.

"This is a victory for a community that deserves a victory (...) an economic jolt and deserves to have its voice heard," said Sen. Patty Murray, who said this project will create jobs. "This community really rallied. This group of people show that when you have a clear goal and a community that is passionate you can come together and get something done. This $34 million is the money that's needed to complete this project(...) This community is going to keep on living."

"Just a few months ago a lot of folks thought this would be an impossible task," said KC Executive Dow Constantine who mentioned bicycle riding planned for both sides of the new bridge. "We said that we would keep this hard working neighborhood in business. Today, thanks to the leadership and tenacity of our senior senator, Patty Murray, we have done it. This project is shovel ready. We'll be putting people to work right away."

"The spirit of this community is incredible," said Mayor McGinn. "Let's just stop for a moment. This bridge was in a bad way for a long time because governments didn't work together and everyone said it's somebody else's problem. I want to commend Dow Constantine for his leadership." He added, "We need Patty Murray in the Senate. She's always been one of us (...) Without her leadership we wouldn't have this bridge."

"My hat is really off (...) to the leaders of the South Park Bridge Coalition who have been pushing for 10 years to really get this done," said Congressman Jim McDermott. "Benjamin Franklin was right when he said 'The imminence of hanging tends to focus peoples' minds.' When we saw that bridge go up for the last time we thought 'Oh my God.' And all the people who are up here (at the podium) suddenly said 'I don't care what we were fighting about before. We've got to get this done.'"

"I already can envision it," said Dagmar Cronn, South Park Neighborhood Association, of the new bridge planned. "I've never seen as many government entities come together in such a short period of time to make such major commitments to this project, so this is truly a new day for the South Park neighborhood, a great place to live."

"I heard about it at 10:00 this morning," Bill Pease, president of the South Park Bridge Committee told the West Seattle Herald. "This has been a lot of years of barking in the dark and it's very exciting. I'm allowing myself to be very happy. I will be happy at Loretta's (restaurant and bar) tonight, supporting the local economy."

"It was indeed a big event," enthused Sen. Joe McDermott. "This is a great day for South Park, the City, King County, State, Federal government all come together to pool our money to replace the bridge, which is essential."

"The new bridge is going to be very good for my business and for the community," said Gurdev Singh, owner of the nearby South Park 76 Gas Station and Subway who Sen. Murray referred to in her speech. "I really appreciate everybody's help. Pattay Murray did such a good job."

"I've never seen a big project come together as quickly as this did," KC Councilmember Jan Drago told the Herald. "It was a crisis, an emergency. We did get our marching orders from Senator Murray at the Mercer (development) announcement. She said in no uncertain terms you need to come together as a regional partnership to move forward with the South Park Bridge TIGER II application."

"We've been working so hard on this moment," said Harold Taniguchi, King County Director of Transportation. I just heard this morning. It's just fantastic."

"I heard they were having the press conference. It's pretty exciting," said Maria Porco who opened her Via Vadi Caffe coffee shop last January behind her family's Napoli Pizzeria on 14th Avenue South, just south of the old, and soon, the new, South Park Bridge. "We've got something to look forward to. It's going to bring bridge workers in. Everybody's optimistic here. We bank and pick up supplies on the other side of the river so the new bridge will be very convenient for us."

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