We all need to cross the Duwamish River, why not with new connectors that combat climate change?

The West Seattle Bridge has failed after only 36 years of useful life—it will be closed until 2022, and possibly forever. Completed in 1984, the concrete high-rise bridge over the Duwamish River suffered from a lack of vision. It was designed only for auto traffic and excluded pedestrians, bicycles, mass transit and other life that needs to cross. Movement to and from West Seattle travels across concrete ramps and pavement that have suffocated the native land of the Duwamish. Climate change and Seattle’s identity as a global leader in green infrastructure demand that we build a long-term living future. We need a well-designed and resilient replacement for the bridge.

We propose to replace the West Seattle Bridge with new ecological connectors for a greener future. More than just concrete lanes for cars, it can be a living system of green infrastructure. Duwamish Crossing is a platform to network and imagine design ideas, mapping, studies, and news about ecological alternatives for the West Seattle Bridge.

This exhibition presents the beginning of the conversation by testing our ideas through various drawing methods: mapping, diagramming, and rendering - and placing ourselves among past visionary plans for Seattle. With our increasing attention towards public health and climate change, what could be the next infrastructural iteration for Seattle?