The South Park Bridge loomed large in the debate over North Highline's possible annexation as Seattle City Council members criticized a proposed agreement with King County concerning responsibility for the dilapidated structure.

During a meeting last week of the City Council's Annexation Committee, council members Richard McIver and Jan Drago expressed reservations about annexing North Highline at all. Unless Seattle decides to annex North Highline and the remaining unincorporated sections of South Park, McIver wondered why the city should involve itself in an agreement over the future of the bridge.

Furthermore, McIver questioned whether it is wise to add to Seattle's population when the city has trouble taking care of its existing responsibilities.

"We have activities in Southeast Seattle," McIver said. "Why take on more when we can't take care of what we've got?

"The Police Guild just told us 37 (additional) cops is not enough, and you want to add 32,000 more people to the city?" he asked.

Drago received a complaint from a woman who's lived north of 85th Street for more than 50 years waiting for sidewalks to be installed in her neighborhood. She's upset the city might annex North Highline and then build up its infrastructure while people who've been official residents of Seattle for a half-century are still waiting for promised improvements.

The South Park Bridge doesn't just cross the Duwamish River at 14th Avenue South; it also spans three different governments. King County owns the bridge but the structure's northern end is in the city of Tukwila. The southern end is in an unincorporated section of South Park known as "the sliver by the river." Most of the rest of South Park is already part of the city of Seattle.

The latest cost estimate for replacing the bridge is $94 million. King County acknowledges its responsibility for the structure, but the county has no money to replace it, said Christa Valles, a council legislative aide.

King County wants wording in the proposed interlocal agreement that the city of Seattle would become liable for the bridge if it annexes the land at the southern end of the bridge.

"If we don't annex, we don't have to do this," McIver said.

Councilwoman Drago agreed.

"It (replacement of the South Park Bridge) should be King County's priority, not the city's priority," she said. "It must not be a priority for them now."

Previously the council passed a resolution calling for an agreement with King County that would free the city of liability for the bridge. It also called on the county to accept responsibility for replacing the South Park Bridge "within a reasonable timeframe."

Councilman Richard Conlin, chairman of the council's Annexation Committee, agreed that King County is responsible for the South Park Bridge.

"The city's goal is to have the bridge replaced and not be stuck paying for it," Conlin said. "We don't want to stick it to the county but we don't want the county to stick it to us."

During the years-long annexation process, the city of Burien also has been considering annexing North Highline.

"Is Burien willing to take the South Park Bridge too?" McIver joked.

Another worrisome aspect of the proposed interlocal agreement is the absence of language about environmental issues, Valles said. Drago shared that concern.

"There are a lot of issues with that river and the soil," the councilwoman said.

City officials said they have two or three weeks left to iron out an agreement over the bridge between the city and county.

Tim St. Clair can be reached at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.