Grand Avenue Bridge in the early evening.
City of Everett photo
EVERETT — The elevator for the Grand Avenue Park Bridge reopened with a short-term fix last month after vandals caused its closure.
The elevator reopened in early November. The city installed a temporary replacement elevator door.
This will be replaced by something more permanent.
A “permanent replacement of the doors will take longer,” said city spokeswoman Simone Tarver, given the time to order parts and fix the elevator. The anticipated timeline for that is February 2025.
They “don’t make the elevator doors,” Tarver said, adding, “the permanent replacement doors will be the same as what was previously there.”
As to how badly the elevator was broken, “the door was damaged making the elevator inoperable,” Tarver said.
By email, Tarver said the city is well aware of the community’s use of the bridge. “We did what we could to get the elevator repaired and re-opened as quickly as possible,” she said.
To make the necessary repairs, it is likely to cost $40,000.
An alternative for those who use the elevator is “the pedestrian overpass on 25th Street to cross W. Marine View Drive,” Tarver said.
People can also use the stairs.
As far as if any measures will be taken, Tarver said, by email, that “there aren’t further measures planned.”
The bridge opened four years ago in 2020. It crosses over the BNSF Railway and West Marine View Drive to connect the homes in northwest Everett to the waterfront.
Tarver mentioned that “vandalism of public property does occur occasionally.” It is unclear as to who the perpetrator is.
In May it was reported by the Herald that “a fire extinguisher was set off inside, damaging the cables and brakes.” As a result, the elevator was closed for a week.
The bridge opened with not much fanfare. The city held off on any grand opening because it opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city said in a press release at the time.
