Independent news and analysis of the Seattle City Council. Wordy and nerdy.
Late afternoon this past Sunday a portion of Pier 58, better known as Waterfront Park, collapsed as construction workers were beginning the work to carefully dismantle and remove it. Let’s look at what led to the collapse, where things stand now, and what happens next.
UPDATE 9-18-20: The city has now closed the adjacent Pier 57, due to a “condition of imminent danger” from the potential collapse of the remainder of Pier 58.
Waterfront Park was built in 1974 at Pier 58, between Miner’s Landing (Pier 57) and the Seattle Aquarium (Pier 59). There have been several changes and refurbishments along the way, including removal of the two original observation towers, the addition of a Seattle City Light electrical vault in 2006, and a rebuilt seawall over the past two years. The pier covers just over 48,000 square feet, in a crescent shape with the southern terrace wedged in between Pier 57 and Miner’s Landing and the northern terrace extending to the northwest paralleling the Aquarium.