Contract Awarded for Emma Schmitz New Seawall

The Army Corps’ Seattle District has awarded a $3 million contract to Redside Construction based in Bainbridge Island, Washington, to replace an existing seawall in West Seattle.

The project will replace the existing 500-foot-long seawall at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, 4503 Beach Dr. SW, Seattle, WA 98116, that was constructed in the 1920s and has experienced significant erosion and damage from storm events.

According to the Corps, the new seawall will be a “soldier pile” (system of vertical piles spaced at a regular interval with material in between to create a wall) design, built a few feet seaward and a few feet higher than the existing seawall, and equipped with safety handrails that the current seawall lacks.

This design will minimize the impact on the beach, address rising sea level concerns and create better contours for the restoration landscaping on the landward portion of the overlook area.

The Army Corps officials anticipate construction of the new seawall to begin in mid-2020.

USACE has partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation to design and build this coastal storm damage reduction project under Section 103 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962.