So the big news is out – Mercer got the TIGER. The what? …the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery discretionary grant. The Obama Administration rolled out $1.5 billion in TIGER grants this week and the Mercer Corridor Project got $30 million. Granted (no pun intended), we didn’t get the full $50 million requested, but smart work by SDOT teams along with a very competitive bidding environment is saving money. Projects such as the Spokane Viaduct Widening Project are coming in under budget and helping to potentially bridge some of that gap.
Governor Chris Gregoire, Senator Patty Murray and Mayor Mike McGinn joined together today at the site of the Old McKay building, on the corner of Westlake and Mercer, to announce the award and to announce that demolition of eight vacant properties will begin in the next few weeks.
Old McKay Building Demolished in September 2009
Construction on the Mercer project is expected to start this summer. The project will create 1,200 direct construction jobs and provide opportunities for minority contractors and apprentices. More than 245,000 people work in Seattle’s greater downtown today, and 50,000 additional jobs are expected by 2024. To learn more about the future two-way Mercer click here.