Bremerton has a ferry terminal downtown where the ferry from Seattle loads and unloads. Obviously the traffic when the ferry unloads is fairly dense for the 10 minutes that it takes to unload the inbound ferry. This occurs every 1-1/2 hours. This has not changed since the ferrys started landing in Bremerton at least 75 years ago.
A few years ago, the mayor decided that he wanted the downtown to be more pedestrian friendly. The real truth is probably that when the new luxury condos were built on the waterfront along Washington Avenue, he did not want the ferry traffic to disrupt the condo dwellers. So a 950 ft tunnel was built from the ferry terminal to near the intersection of Burwell street and Park avenue. This cost the taxpayers a mear $54million of mainly federal funds. It was started two years ago today. I worked near the construction zone and it was miserable putting up with the disruption, route changes and noise. Now when I get off the ferry with one of my motor vehicles, I will exit the tunnel and be diverted many blocks therby increasing my time and distance to get home. I will still drive through town, but not by the condos. And the condos are more than half empty and are not selling. Great progress.
Today the tunnel is finished. The Governor, ex-mayor, US Congressman Dicks(who obtained the federal funds) and a lot of other dignataries cut the ribbon and us citizens got to walk through the tunnel.
The exit on Burwell Street. The dignataries are down in the opening.
The interior of the tunnel. Check out the forest design cast into the concrete walls. Painted too! Pretty nice.
This is at the ferry terminal end. The traffic exiting the ferry enters here. The road to the right is where the traffic exited before the tunnel and it was to allow the traffic that goes to East Bremerton(that's me) to drive up Washington Avenue(and by the "luxury condos"). It was estimated that 35% would go that way. A couple months ago, that descision was reversed and now ALL traffic will go through the tunnel except bicycles(sometimes that is me) and vehicles with flammable or explosive loads.
Agree that is was mostly wasted money. When they announced that all traffic would be forced thru the tunnel, considered it was dual reason, the rich B&B's in the condos and the soon to be a disaster Manette Bridge. Suspect that the Bremerton Trans Dept will close the Manette Bridge soon as it is no longer safe for all traffic. They are directing the traffic away from that bridge to get people used to the idea that it will soon be closed.
ReplyDeleteActually, the tunnel exit area is signed to send people to Manette Bridge. And some work(tearing down old buildings) to support the new bridge has started. But, the last few years, there was a lot more closures of the Manette Bridge for inspections and maintenance. I don't miss those days at all! We will see what happens.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought that the exit signs would direct people to the Warren Ave Bridge. Hopefully they get dollars to replace the Manette Bridge soon.
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to get out of Bremerton, away from the politics and favoritism. Thanks for the update and pics. I doubt I will ever see the inside of that tunnel.
ReplyDeleteI should rephrase my comment a bit. The tunnel does direct traffic toward Warren Avenue bridge, but the city did provide signage to also diret traffic toward Manette Bridge. And I thought that the money for the new Manette Bridge was already in place with actual construction to start in 2010. And the new bridge will be built alongside the old with the old being dropped after the new is finished.
ReplyDeleteDesperately looking for an up side and all I could come up with is I am glad they didn't put a tollbooth at the tunnel entrance.
ReplyDeleteDave
You are probably correct that the money is available. Don't pay much attention to the funding, usually just watch the rusted out pieces fall, from the restaurant below the bridge.
ReplyDeleteJust finished watching the really old guy ride a very smart team stage out of Montpilier (sp).
The tunnel doesn't have vent fans like the Japanese tunnels. I will have to send a CIVLAR to city hall.
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