The $37 million rehabilitation of the Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma will be done in time to celebrate the historic structure’s centennial, according to city officials.

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland inquired about the progress during last week’s city council study session.

“Public Works reports the project is on schedule to open to vehicle traffic by December 31, 2012, in anticipation of its 100 year anniversary on February 15, 2013,” wrote City Manager T. C. Broadnax in his Feb. 23 weekly report to city council.

Tacoma City Council awarded a contract to PCL Construction Services to rehabilitate the bridge by completing structural repairs, painting the bridge black, replacing the deck, and repairing or replacing the mechanical and electrical systems. The bridge was closed to motor vehicles Oct. 23, 2007, due to safety concerns that arose after weeks of inspections by Washington State Department of Transportation engineers. In 2008, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation included the bridge on its annual list of Most Endangered Properties. Also in 2008, the bridge was included on Historic Tacoma’s “Watch List” of endangered historic sites.

In November, Tacoma City Council’s environment and public works committee approved a recommendation to add an elevator and staircase to the north side of the bridge in order to connect Dock Street and Thea Foss Waterway to 11th Street and downtown Tacoma. The cost of building the new elevator and staircase would fall within the current budget for the rehabilitation of the bridge.

“The new stairs and elevator will also be open by December 31st,” added Broadnax. “There may be some additional work occurring on the bridge that will require occasional lane closures after December 31st.”

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the Murray Morgan Bridge rehabilitation, click on the following links:

• Murray Morgan Bridge: Proposal would install signage on counterweights (Tacoma Daily Index, August 7, 2012)
• Murray Morgan Bridge rehab will include new elevator, staircase (Tacoma Daily Index, June 14, 2012)
• City: Murray Morgan Bridge will re-open in time for centennial (Tacoma Daily Index, February 28, 2012)
• Tacoma City Council committee approves elevator, staircase for Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, November 9, 2011)
• Murray Morgan Bridge elevator, staircase discussion continues (Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 4, 2011)
• Murray Morgan Bridge rehabilitation could include new elevator (Tacoma Daily Index, October 14, 2011)
• Winds batter Murray Morgan Bridge cover (Tacoma Daily Index, September 26, 2011)
• Murray Morgan Bridge to be painted black (Tacoma Daily Index, March 24, 2011)
• Back In Black? City proposal would paint Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, March 21, 2011)
• $49M contract approved for Murray Morgan Bridge rehab (Tacoma Daily Index, January 5, 2011)
• Tacoma City Council votes Tuesday on $49M Murray Morgan Bridge rehab contract (Tacoma Daily Index, January 3, 2011)
• Wire thieves, vandals hit historic Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, December 15, 2010)
• Council vote ahead for Murray Morgan Bridge loan (Tacoma Daily Index, September 10, 2010)
• $20M WSDOT loan would complete Murray Morgan Bridge rehab (Tacoma Daily Index, September 1, 2010)
• Bicyclists, pedestrians return to Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, March 31, 2010)
• Murray Morgan Bridge ribbon-cutting March 31 (Tacoma Daily Index, March 18, 2010)
• Murray Morgan Makeover (Tacoma Daily Index, February 9, 2010)
• Murray Morgan Bridge scheduled to close for re-cabling project Feb. 1 (Tacoma Daily Index, February 1, 2010)
• Steel cables, heavy equipment signal beginning of Murray Morgan Bridge rehab (Tacoma Daily Index, January 25, 2010)
• Bridge Support: A chorus of praise for saving Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, December 4, 2009)
• Tacoma City Council approves Murray Morgan Bridge agreement (Tacoma Daily Index, December 2, 2009)
• City Council to vote Dec. 1 on Murray Morgan Bridge agreement (Tacoma Daily Index, November 25, 2009)
• Tacoma closer to owning Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, November 19, 2009)
• Murray Morgan Bridge rehab delayed (Tacoma Daily Index, October 8, 2009)
• Contract awarded for Murray Morgan Bridge cable project (Tacoma Daily Index, June 17, 2009)
• City, State Murray Morgan Bridge funding negotiations will continue (Tacoma Daily Index, May 6, 2009)
• Murray Morgan Mojo: $3 million project to replace bridge cables ready to begin (Tacoma Daily Index, December 16, 2008)
• City, State consider innovative financing plan for Murray Morgan Bridge rehab (Tacoma Daily Index, December 11, 2008)
• 2008 Washington State Endangered Historic Properties — Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, June 11, 2008)
• Murray Morgan Bridge’s Endangered Legacy (Tacoma Daily Index, May 30, 2008)
• Murray Morgan Bridge tops list of Washington Trust’s annual Most Endangered Historic Properties(Tacoma Daily Index, May 27, 2008)
• Murray Morgan Bridge closure expensive decision (Tacoma Daily Index, October 31, 2007)
• Bridge Jumper: WSDOT shutters Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, October 25, 2007)
• Murray Morgan Bridge inspections continue (Tacoma Daily Index, October 8, 2007)
• Inspections continue on Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, September 18, 2007)
• Murray Morgan Bridge closure begins today (Tacoma Daily Index, April 3, 2006)
• Spanning the ages, scars and all: City Council hears report on costs of owning, restoring historic Murray Morgan Bridge (Tacoma Daily Index, January 12, 2005)
• City navigates Murray Morgan Bridge issue (Tacoma Daily Index, June 2, 2004)
• Murray Morgan Bridge to stay open, WSDOT says (Tacoma Daily Index, August 28, 2003)