MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle’s Waterfront Park closed due to shifting at Pier 58

Aug 12, 2020, 7:44 AM

shark tank, pier 58...

The Seattle Aquarium on Elliott Bay. (MyNorthwest photo)

(MyNorthwest photo)

Pier 58 on Seattle’s downtown waterfront has been closed and fenced off after officials discovered that it is shifting, creating a gap between the pier and the land. The pier, known as Waterfront Park, is located between the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel.

Guest column: The surprises happening at the Seattle Waterfront

“It’s shifting in several different places. The piers are separate from each other, so … this pier’s not attached to the aquarium pier, it’s not attached to the pier to the south,” said Jesus Aguirre, superintendent for Seattle Parks and Recreation. “But obviously, it’s moving and shifting, there could be some impact there if we don’t move quickly.”

The pier will need to be replaced. City officials say the seawall, however, which was replaced just a few years ago, is fine.

“Pier 58 is next to the Elliott Bay seawall, which is a separate structure. And that structure is in good shape and has not shifted along with the pier,” said Sam Zimbabwe, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation.

While officials in Seattle did know that Pier 58 would eventually need to be replaced, they didn’t expect it to happen this soon.

“We are going to remove it at an accelerated rate,” Aguirre said. “So it is enough of an emergency where we felt compelled to fence it off, secure it, and not allow public on it any longer. It’s clear to us that this will need to be removed.”

Seattle council votes to approve controversial tax for waterfront project

Funding for the pier replacement had previously been secured as part of the Waterfront Seattle project. Pier 58 was already in the process of being designed, with removal of the existing pier and construction of a new pier planned for 2022. The redesign includes a public plaza, large lawn, and a children’s playground. It’s also designed to improve the salmon habitat and migration corridor. Miner’s Landing and the Seattle Aquarium will not close.

Pier 62, which was also replaced in the building of a new central waterfront, is expected to open later this year.

The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

6 minutes ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

1 hour ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

3 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

3 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

4 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

7 hours ago

Seattle’s Waterfront Park closed due to shifting at Pier 58