West Seattle Bridge Repairs Enter Final Phase

Seattle WA

29 November, 2021

5:53 PM

Description

SEATTLE — A major repair project on the West Seattle Bridge has entered its final phase, with city officials confident one of the region's busiest roadways will be ready to reopen to traffic in mid-2022. Mayor Jenny Durkan joined the Seattle Department of Transportation Monday morning to celebrate the achievement as the closure nears the two-year mark. The West Seattle Bridge High-Rise closed in March 2020 after routine inspections identified growing cracks along the span. The city opted to repair the bridge rather than replace it, which would have been costlier and taken considerably more time. "Since March 2020, our city has faced unprecedented challenges, including the closure of the West Seattle Bridge," Durkan said Monday. "After the important work to stabilize the bridge then design the specialized repairs, SDOT is starting the final repair phase of the West Seattle Bridge. Because of the work at SDOT, the end is in sight to reopen the bridge in the coming months. This is an important milestone for our residents, commuters, and businesses as we urgently work to reconnect West Seattle to the greater region." According to the city, the last phase of repairs includes: Injecting epoxy into the cracks to seal them and prevent corrosion.Wrapping parts of the structure with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer for durability to strengthen the bridge, similar to putting a cast on a broken bone.Installing more tight steel cables called post-tensioning strands through the entire bridge. These strands reinforce the concrete, much like the bridge's skeleton. More maintenance work is also planned along the entire bridge corridor, including: Replacing bridge joints that allow the structures to expand and contract during hot and cold weather safely.Paving to give people driving a smooth and predictable surface that will last for years.Replacing all signs and the structures that hold them with signs that are easier for people driving to read and withstand high winds and storms. Officials estimate the final phase of repairs will cost approximately $45 million, with an estimated 70 percent coming from federal funding. In statements released Monday, several members of Washington's congressional delegation welcomed the news that the project had entered its final stretch. Sen. Patty Murray: "This is great news for Seattle and shows federal dollars at work, supporting our communities in ways that matter. I worked very closely with the city of Seattle to make sure we got as much federal support to get this done as possible. Bottom line: we can keep goods and commuters going where they need to go—this is a huge relief for anyone who has been dealing with the fallout of the West Seattle Bridge's closure. I'll keep working in the other Washington to keep Seattle moving forward." Sen. Maria Cantwell: "The West Seattle Bridge is critical to our national and regional economy. Before its closure, more than 84,000 cars and trucks and 25,000 bus riders crossed the bridge every weekday, connecting one-sixth of Seattle's population to the rest of the city and providing a key freight link in and out of the Port of Seattle. Repairing the West Seattle Bridge and the lower Spokane Street Bridge will help relieve the bottlenecks in our supply chain, protect the $350 million investment in modernizing Terminal 5, and ensure that freight can be moved efficiently to it and the other port terminals that support over 45,000 jobs. I want to thank Mayor Jenny Durkan for her hard work and urgency in getting these repairs completed." Rep. Pramila Jayapal: "As a West Seattle resident, I know how important it is to our neighbors, businesses, port, and regional economy that we quickly and safely repair the West Seattle Bridge. That's why I fought to secure an $11.2 million INFRA Grant for this critical project in addition to passing a historic investment in our country's infrastructure that includes more than $8.5 billion for Washington, America's single largest dedicated bridge investment since the mid 1900s, and around $600 million for repairing and replacing bridges right here in our state. Working hand-in-hand with local leaders across Seattle, members of our Congressional delegation, and the Biden Administration, we are making necessary repairs and truly building back better." Drivers and residents who rely on the bridge can stay up to date with construction updates on SDOT's blog and by signing up for weekly e-mail updates.