The New Fairview Bridge and Volunteer Cleanup

On Saturday, July 24, the long awaited reconstructed Fairview Bridge was opened to the public. For a couple of hours before the bridge was open to traffic, pedestrians, bikers, roller skaters and skateboarders were able to enjoy the fresh pavement as well as ice cream from Shug’s for the opening ceremony and ribbon cutting (pictured above). Comments regarding the project were made by Sam Zimbabwe, Director of Transportation for SDOT, Seattle Councilmember Alex Pederson and Bart Treece, WSDOT Northwest Communications Director.

For the past two years, leading up to the new bridge, Eastlaker Harmon Rogers has been dedicated to a twice-a-year cleanup along Fairview Avenue and completed cleanup before the bridge opening in July. Eastlake is unique among Seattle neighborhoods in its natural beauty and long, publicly accessible shoreline. Preserving this is important to members of the Eastlake community. In Rogers’ own words:

“After long months of construction, the new Fairview bridge with its modern design of concrete, steel, and boulders is a very welcome sight. What might not be known to many who cross the bridge is just north of it along a quarter mile path is the last natural shoreline on Lake Union. It has native northwest plants and is home to numerous wildlife including beavers, otters, rabbits, ducks, geese, turtles, other birds, fish and more. Keeping it clean and fighting back invasive blackberry plants, ivy, and knot weed are important tasks happily borne by Eastlake volunteers so that this environmental gem in the middle of the city is preserved.”

Pictured below: Before volunteer cleanup along Fairview (top) and after (bottom), photos courtesy of Harmon Rogers.