The environmental review of alternatives for rehabilitating or replacing the South Park Bridge has been extended for 10 months to include more time to evaluate comments from state and federal agencies, gather additional environmental information, and further assess the impacts of the project on the local business community.

King County now anticipates issuing the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the spring of 2004. Consequently, the announcement of a preferred alternative for repairing or replacing the 73-year-old bridge located between Seattle and Tukwila is not expected until next summer, following the consideration of comments on the draft EIS from various agencies and the public.

The King County Roads Services Division has been conducting extensive research and outreach in on the EIS. Deterioration of the aging bridge was accelerated by the Nisqually Earthquake in 2001, making it necessary to repair or replace the bridge. Five alternatives are currently being studied as part of the EIS process:

• Rehabilitation of the existing drawbridge
• Construction of a new bascule drawbridge
• Construction of a mid-level fixed-span bridge (approximately 65 feet high)
• Construction of a high-level fixed-span bridge (approximately 100 feet high)
• Consideration of a "no-build" alternative (required by federal guidelines)

The extension of the project timeline is the result of several factors. It took longer than expected to prepare 14 technical reports required to evaluate potential impacts to regional and local traffic, the South Park community, fish habitat, and other key areas. Additional analysis has been required by state and federal agencies prior to completing the technical studies that will be summarized in the draft EIS. And, field investigation to assess hazardous materials and other sub-surface soil conditions in the project area has been delayed due to permit requirements.