EDMONDS — Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA02) toured the Port of Edmonds’ aging North Portwalk and seawall Saturday, just weeks after securing $1.2 million in federal money to rebuild the crumbling waterfront landmark he and Senator Maria Cantell have championed for years.
Larsen walked some of the 950-foot stretch of boardwalk and observed the 1968-era seawall whose steel and timber piles show widespread rot and rust. He was joined by Port Commissioners who shared how the funding will protect public access, marina businesses and rail lines that move millions of tons of freight each year.
Port Commission President Janelle Cass called the money a crucial investment in a “vital public asset” that serves as a central hub for Edmonds and Woodway residents, visitors and local businesses.
“Your support ensures that this essential community resource and critical infrastructure will remain safe, resilient and accessible for decades to come,” she wrote in a thank-you letter presented to Representative Larsen.
President Donald J. Trump signed the $1.2 trillion fiscal 2026 spending package Feb. 3, locking in the Community Project Funding Larsen helped secure in the Transportation-HUD bill. The measure passed the House with strong bipartisan support on a 341-88 vote.
The North Portwalk project, estimated at $32 million overall, has been split into three phases.
Phase I is finished: a new LEED-Silver administration building now stands on a repurposed waterfront lot, complete with public EV chargers and solar panels.
Phase II, already under way, will demolish the old administration building at 336 Admiral Way, repave parking areas, upgrade electrical service for the marina and create a new public plaza. The state chipped in $1.5 million from the Washington State Department of Transportation and up to $500,000 from the Recreation and Conservation Office.
Federal dollars target Phase III, planned for 2028-2029. Crews will replace the entire boardwalk within the same footprint but raise it six inches for better pedestrian safety and sea-level resilience. The new design features steel framing, railings and a deck of concrete panels inset with clear glass blocks that let sunlight reach marine life below. Restrooms, expanded parking, landscaping, lighting and a public art plaza round out the work.
Engineers have documented severe problems: rust and delamination in every steel pile, rot in 90% of timber piles and lateral movement in half of them. Without repairs, port officials warn, the seawall could fail, threatening more than $53 million in waterfront assets and disrupting the marina economy.
The Port of Edmonds adopted its updated Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements in November 2025, making the North Portwalk project a cornerstone of its 20-year capital plan. Officials continue pursuing additional state and federal grants to close remaining funding gaps.
Author: Mario Lotmore
