成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Thousands of pounds of garbage, debris removed from Seattle’s former ‘Jungle’

Jan 23, 2017, 6:05 AM | Updated: Jan 27, 2017, 10:42 pm

Much of the ground under Interstate 5 along Airport Way, that was once connected to Seattle’s largest illegal homeless encampment, is barren.

The tangled bushes and weeds have recently been cleared out by crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation. It looks less like a jungle and more like cultivated farmland.

That makes sense, considering more than 300,000 pounds of debris has been removed from under I-5 after hundreds of homeless people moved out of the encampment known as the “Jungle.”

“So far, over the past several months, we have cleared out 366,000 pounds of debris from under I-5,” WSDOT spokesperson Travis Phelps said.

Related: Seattle mayor sends emergency order for 3 homeless camps

The City of Seattle, WSDOT, and made the聽final push to move homeless people out of the greenbelt dubbed the “Jungle.” The area just below Beacon Hill and under and around I-5 had — during a count in February 2016聽—聽about 200 tents and an estimated 400 people living in it. That number significantly dropped after gaining national attention from a deadly shooting that put the lawlessness in the area into the limelight.

By October, the Union Gospel Mission estimated about 15 people remained in the “Jungle” after “numerous warnings and encounters.”

The Jungle is now empty, according to Gospel Mission Public Relations Manager Torie Rynning.

“Our outreach director drives by daily and reports that there is still maintenance being done under I-5, and has noted an ongoing presence of police officers to monitor the area,” she said in an email.

The action taken on unauthorized camps hasn’t gone unnoticed by advocate groups, including the ACLU, which filed a class action lawsuit against the city and state on Jan. 19.

鈥淚magine if government agents came to your home and carted away everything you own, without any warning and without telling you how to get back whatever they didn鈥檛 throw out,鈥 said ACLU-WA Legal Director Emily Chiang. 鈥淔or people living outdoors in Seattle, this horrifying scenario is too often a reality 鈥 and has been so for years.鈥

WSDOT has been working on I-5 since the “Jungle” was cleared. Crews continue to do maintenance and inspections, including on the 38 or so sets of aging expansion joints that exist between Airport Way and the stadiums, according to Phelps. Prior to clearing the area out, it was difficult for crews to reach portions of the heavily used infrastructure, according to past reports.

And the land isn’t totally clear of debris, which, along with vegetation, has included garbage and human waste, Phelps said.

“There’s still more to go, but this is kind of slow, tedious work because of all the rain we’ve been getting,” he said.

The Washington State 2016 Supplemental Transportation Budget allocated $1 million to improve conditions under I-5.

In addition to cleaning the area out, the state is waiting for the weather to improve to build better access to I-5. Right now, even four-wheel-drive vehicles have difficulty reaching some areas due to all the mud.

MyNorthwest News

Gold futures all time high tariffs...

Jason Sutich

Gold futures surge above $3,500 to all-time high amid U.S. tariff concerns

Gold futures hit an all-time high of $3,534 on Thursday after reports of the White House's plans to issue an executive order imposing tariffs on gold.

4 hours ago

male birth control...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

Male birth control pill deemed safe, but Gee says men wouldn’t take it

A male birth control pill has been deemed safe for human use but 成人X站 hosts debate if men will take it.

5 hours ago

tacoma hospital shooting...

MyNorthwest Staff and 成人X站 7 News Staff

Suspect in Tacoma hospital shooting arrested

Authorities have arrested a man in connection with Wednesday night鈥檚 deadly hospital shooting in Tacoma, police said.

8 hours ago

dog disease...

Julia Dallas

By the water this weekend? Beware of potentially deadly dog disease

Owners should be aware of a deadly dog disease, called salmon poisoning disease, which is most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest.

15 hours ago

Ichiro...

Aaron Granillo

Seattle skyline to light up in Ichiro鈥檚 honor

The Seattle skyline is posed to set up in Ichiro's honor as the Mariners prepare to retire his jersey.

18 hours ago

Tacoma...

Jillian Raftery

People will vote on Tacoma’s ‘Workers’ Bill of Rights’ 鈥 just a matter of when

Tacoma鈥檚 City Council will hold a special meeting Friday morning to decide whether to adopt or send to voters a proposed 鈥淲orkers' Bill of Rights.鈥

18 hours ago

Thousands of pounds of garbage, debris removed from Seattle’s former ‘Jungle’