Alliance for Pioneer Square

Seattle Parks and Recreation completed the installation of a temporary protection bollard for the Pioneer Square Pergola. The new bollard is anchored by a structural pipe set into the ground and provides extra strength and protection for the historical Pergola. The temporary bollard will be replaced when the fabrication and delivery of the permanent decorative bollard is completed. Parks removed the temporary cement blocks that were installed to provide short-term protection and installed a new concrete ramp from the street.

The installation of a new cornice piece on the Pergola is scheduled for the weekend of October 20-21. The required work is adjacent to the electric trolley lines on First Avenue requiring the lines to be temporarily deactivated while the work proceeds. While the work occurs, the right lane of north bound First Avenue will be temporarily blocked during the installation operations to allow for a boom lift to assist in placing the restored cornice piece.

Parks anticipates the installation of the permanent decorative bollard will occur in November.  This project will take about two hours and have minimal impact to the area.

In 2001 the Pergola was hit and knocked down by a semi-truck. The Pergola was completely renovated at that time, and a surface mount bollard was installed to protect the historical structure from further strikes. However, the Pergola and bollard have been hit several times since 2001, necessitating repair and reinstallation of the old bollard. Now Seattle Parks and Recreation is collaborating with the Seattle Department of Transportation to install an in-ground bollard that will provide even more protection to keep this iconic piece of Seattle’s past intact.

Constructed in 1909, the Pergola in Pioneer Square Park provided shelter for passengers waiting for the cable car that ran along Yesler Way. It was built in a Victorian style, out of iron and glass. It was restored in 1972, and designated a historic landmark in 1977.

For more information on the project, please contact Ron Wright of Ron Wright and Associates at

rwright@rwaa.com or 206-728-4248.

Construction overview

• Last week, SDOT installed signs helping pedestrians find queued taxis under the viaduct between Columbia and Marion streets. Signs direct people to use the crosswalk at Columbia Street to reach taxis.

• Coming up next weekend: from 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, through 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, both directions of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed from just north of the Battery Street Tunnel to the West Seattle Bridge. Crews are closing the viaduct for its semiannual inspection, which includes examining the structure for settlement and performing routine maintenance and preservation work.

• For a weekly update of the latest traffic closures, please visit our webpage.

 

Continuing work

• Ongoing work to install underground monitoring equipment, which is a part of a comprehensive program, helps crews minimize ground movement and protect structures during tunneling. During the upcoming week, work in this program will occur:
  • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday: Crews will shift the southbound lane on Western Avenue between Columbia and Marion streets. Two-way traffic will be maintained.
  • 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday: Marion Street will be reduced to one lane between Alaskan Way and Post Alley.
  • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday: Crews will be working on Columbia Street between Post Alley and Alaskan Way. One lane of traffic will be maintained. Parking on the south side of Columbia Street will be impacted.

• Viaduct reinforcement continues for just one night and then wraps up. All southbound lanes of the viaduct from the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel to the West Seattle Bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday night only. Following this closure, the viaduct will be back open to traffic around the clock.

 

Upcoming events

        Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels (Safeco Field)

• Mon., Oct. 1, 7:10 p.m.
• Tues., Oct. 2, 7:10 p.m.
• Wed., Oct. 3, 3:40 p.m.

        Washington State University Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks (CenturyLink)

• Sat., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.

Seattle City Light will be pulling fiber optic cable through underground conduit on Sunday, Sept. 30 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Crews will be working Sunday, Sept. 30 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on First Avenue, pulling cable.  They will be working in one block increments (south to north).  All of the permits have been secured.  Significant traffic interruption is not expected.  See above map.

• What: One-day job
• Why: Data fiber cables for Seattle City Light and other City Departments.
• Where: First Avenue from Cherry to King streets in the utility access holes shown with an “M” on the attached map.  A City Light truck will stay at each of the utility holes shown for approximately two hours

What you can expect:

• No planned outages
• Traffic impacts possibly at the intersections where the work will occur
• Uniform police officers will direct traffic
• Parking restrictions on the west side of 1^st Avenue and on side streets
• City Light work trucks on the street

The yellow highlights on the attached map show where “No Parking’ signs will be placed. The A-frame no parking signs will give the exact hours of our work and will be picked up as the work progresses if crews no longer need access to an area.  For more information about available parking in the area, please go to:  http://downtownseattle.com/parking/index.html