A Tacoma City Council committee approved a design for a elevator and stair tower that is part of the renovation of the historic Murray Morgan Bridge.

The steel-frame tower with switchback stairs would replace existing stairs on the south side of the bridge and is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The $1.2 million tower is included in project funding, project manager Tom Rutherford told the council’s Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday.

The chosen design was one of two presented to the council. The other was a concrete shaft with stairs that would have wrapped around the center tower. City staff recommended the steel tower because it required a smaller foundation, was cheaper by $200,000 was considered more compatible with the bridge’s historic features. The steel concept will require more maintenance – mostly painting.

Here’s a link to the city’s webpage on the bridge project.

Here are the renderings of the tower that were presented to the committee: