Murray Morgan Bridge Information

The Murray Morgan Bridge is a 95-year-old, 1,748 foot long steel-truss structure that spans the Thea Foss waterway, connecting downtown Tacoma to the tide flats. Originally named the 11th Street Bridge, in 1957 it was re-decked and designated as SR 509. At that time, ownership of the bridge was transferred from the City of Tacoma to WSDOT.

When the new SR 509 alignment and cable-stay bridge were completed in 1997, most of the old SR 509 alignment (everything from ‘A’ Street to Marine View Drive except the bridge) was returned to city ownership. The Murray Morgan Bridge is the only piece of the former alignment still owned by WSDOT.

In October 2007, WSDOT bridge engineers conducted the scheduled comprehensive inspection of the Murray Morgan Bridge and found additional structural deterioration. WSDOT determined the bridge must close to all vehicular traffic, including emergency vehicles, to ensure public safety.

The Path Forward
The City has retained a consultant to look at a rehabilitation option for this structure that would allow the bridge to once again carry traffic. The report issued by the consultant indicates this rehabilitation would cost approximately $80 million dollars. With just under $40 million for this project in the WSDOT budget, this leaves a $40 million shortfall that the City is trying to close.

WSDOT continues to work with the city regarding plans for the corridor. Ultimately, the state plans to return ownership of the bridge to the City of Tacoma.

In November 2007, as part of our annual in-depth inspection, WSDOT retained a consultant to perform an extensive assessment of the wire ropes on the bridge. The assessment recommended replacing the cable ropes within one year or taking the bridge completely out of service.

WSDOT has worked with the city of Tacoma, to develop three options to address the cable rope situation:

1. Replace all ropes, equalizer frames, trunnions and sheaves to allow the bridge to open and close for marine traffic; allow only pedestrian traffic on the bridge. Estimated cost $7 million.
2. Replace ropes and equalizer frames to allow the bridge to open and close for marine traffic; allow only pedestrian traffic on the bridge. Estimated cost $3.5 million.
3. Lock the main span in the ‘up’ position allowing marine traffic to pass, but eliminating it as a route for pedestrians. Estimated cost $1.5 million.

Current Status
WSDOT and city are currently focusing on the third option as the most feasible because it is the least complex and the most cost-effective. This work would act as the first step toward rehab of the bridge, which is a current option for the city.

Although the third option eliminates pedestrian-use of the bridge, the documented number of people crossing (20 in the a.m. and p.m.) is small compared to the cost of the second option.

WSDOT is working with the city to inform the council, community, and other interest groups of the decision and plans to carry out the third option near the end of 2008 or in early 2009.