Date:  Thursday, September 25, 2008

Contact: Hung Huynh, WSDOT Project Engineer, 206-440-4311
Greg Phipps, WSDOT Communications, 206-464-1265

SEATTLE –Members of the public can learn more next Tuesday about design options for a fence on Seattle’s State Route 99 Aurora Bridge.

The Aurora Bridge Fence advisory committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 30. In this meeting the committee will continue to review and provide feedback on design options for the top of the fence. The meeting is also an opportunity for the public to observe the committee at work and provide either spoken or written comments. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 109 at Seattle Pacific University's Otto Miller Hall, located at 3469 Third Avenue W. The public comment period will begin at 7:40 p.m., although written comments can be submitted at any time.

Those who cannot attend advisory committee meetings can review the latest design concepts and submit comments on the project Web site.

WSDOT is designing the fence to deter people from jumping from the Aurora Bridge and to improve safety for those who live, work and travel underneath the bridge. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

WSDOT will hold the sixth and final committee meeting at the same time and location on Tuesday, Oct. 21. WSDOT formed the advisory committee to reflect the interests of community, business and government groups during the development of fence designs. The committee is helping WSDOT identify a preferred alternative before the agency presents its preferred design to the city of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board later this year.

The Washington State Legislature provided $1.5 million for project design last March and will consider $5.9 million in construction funding during the 2009 legislative session. If the Legislature approves construction funding, and the Landmarks Preservation Board and the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation approve the preferred design, fence installation could begin in early 2010.

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