South Park merchants faced with more construction

SEATTLE — Business owners waiting for the new South Park Bridge to open over the Duwamish River will have another construction project to deal with once it's done.

The bridge connects South Park to the rest of Seattle and is vital for area merchants.

The next round of construction for a sewer project will occur along 14th Avenue south and Donovan Street starting in 2014, right around the time construction on the South Park Bridge is scheduled to end.

The city said 40 homes are in danger of flooding and pipes need to be replaced.

In 2008 and 2009, Seattle spent millions repaving the sidewalks and adding trees and art in the neighborhood, but the city said at that time, it didn’t know pipes needed to be replaced.

Since then, flooding has become a problem and storm water and even sewage is backing up into people's homes in the area because pipes are too small and old.

Because the lack of a bridge to South Park is keeping customers away, some business owners said the new round of construction following the opening of the new bridge may cause them to have to close their doors.

But with homes in danger of flooding, the city may not be able to wait.

KIRO