WA Senate: No enviro delays to 520 bridge project

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate has passed a bill to prevent a possible work stoppage on the 520 floating bridge project over environmental concerns.

The measure, HB 2814, passed the House earlier this week and goes now to the governor.

It would grant the project an exemption from the state’s Shoreline Management Act, which requires a work stoppage until lawsuits contesting environmental permitting are resolved.

Supporters say the bill would ensure that 900 construction jobs and $165 million in state money would not be lost.

Opponents counter that it’s unfair for a Seattle project to get special treatment.

The bill would also require that a funding source — likely from Interstate 90 tolling — be in place before work begins on construction connecting the new 520 bridge to the western landing near the University of Washington.