The crumbling bridge close at 7 p.m. with its drawbridge left in the open position.

Community members held a wake for the bridge starting at 6 p.m. with tribal drummers, bagpipes, a blues band and a final walk across the bridge.

People who live and work in the area knew the bridge was old and needed to be replaced, but said they were told a new one was in the works. There was a sign posted describing the new bridge and King County bought the property to build it.

But the county doesn’t have the $130 million it will cost to replace it. In the last few weeks, about half of the money has been raised.

“You essentially have the threat of this entire (South Park) neighborhood being isolated from the rest of Seattle. This is their life blood,” said commuter Martin Lyons. “If this were any other area such as Medina or Newcastle they would have had a bridge in here years ago.”

Some who live in the area understand the need for the closure.

“Plenty of people have looked at it before and it’s dangerous and it needs to be shut down,” said Chris Carey.

The 80-year-old bridge has been deemed unsafe by federal officials who said the structure is more vulnerable to collapse than the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The structure was inspected in 2007 after a similar kind of bridge collapsed in Minneapolis, killing 13 people.

If money is raised for a new bridge, it will be take at least three years to build.

Drivers will have to take the First South Bridge to cross the Duwamish River.