The city of Seattle is taking emergency steps to dismantle Pier 58, a 46-year-old waterfront park, after an engineering study found deterioration from “natural forces” caused the timber pile-supported structure to shift several inches from an adjacent seawall.
A Seattle Parks spokesperson confirmed that a study suggested accelerated pile deterioration as the cause for the shifting, and recommended the pier’s immediate dismantlement, which was approved Aug. 14 by Mayor Jenny Durkan. A seawall, which was rebuilt in 2017, is unaffected by the pile issues, as are adjacent piers supporting a privately owned aquarium and other tourism businesses, and a city-owned Ferris wheel.