The Ballard Locks are closed to walking traffic until Thursday as the Army Corps of Engineers works to repair erosion, the Ballard News Tribune reports. That means two days of detours to either the Fremont Bridge or (if you really have to) the Ballard Bridge.
The Ballard locks will be closed to all pedestrian traffic Feb. 7 and Feb. 8th to all pedestrian traffic as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is repairing a scour near the small lock wall. Vessel traffic will also be halted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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The 95-year old Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are showing signs of water wear and tear, and repair work is needed.
Water has caused erosion along a portion of the small lock wall creating a scour. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official say the lock is safe and there is no immediate danger of failure, but the repair is needed to maintain the safe waterway and stop further erosion.
Speaking of the Ballard Bridge, we’ve received word that Angry Ballard Bridge Guy is still getting into it with people trying to bike on the bridge’s pitifully skinny sidewalks. Here’s some background.
Comments
2 responses to “Ballard News Tribune: Ballard Locks closed for repairs until Thursday”
I’ve been still riding across the Ballard Bridge in the traffic lane for the past month and change. Glad I never got used to the Locks, no surprise that the city didn’t coordinate with the Locks people. This city is full of crap when it comes to actually doing something about cycling in a meaningful way, but they sure do like photo-ops and taking credit when it comes time for press releases.
Those sidewalks would make anyone angry.
That and the cutbacks to mental health care. But yeah I agree with Anthony, they are closing the walk paths because it’s easy, not because they have to. They could have a flagger there if they really were worried about bicycle traffic interfering with the construction workers. Or they could close both ends of the lock, and let bicyclists use one end.