West Seattle Bridge Weekly Update
News about the week ahead for the West Seattle Bridge Program
In late 2021, crews began the final repairs needed to re-open the West Seattle Bridge in mid-2022. The focus of December’s work was providing access for construction materials and workers going inside and under the bridge.
We plan to release regular progress video updates along with more detail on construction methods until the bridge reopens in mid-2022. Stay tuned for more.
 Last weekend, we hoisted the work platforms into place on the underside of the high bridge’s western span. This weekend, we plan to complete the rigging work on the eastern span of the bridge so that the final platforms can be raised later this month. The work platforms provide crews access to the underside of the bridge and will allow them to complete epoxy injections and carbon-fiber wrapping.
 Crews align the work platform underneath the high bridge and attach cables.
 Using winches positioned on the bridge deck, the platform is lifted from the ground to the underside of the bridge.
This week, we used ground penetrating radar to identify optimal core drilling locations on the bridge. Core drilling allows us to create access to install post-tensioning cables that will reinforce the strength of the bridge’s concrete. Next week, crews will begin relocating existing utility lines that run through the inside of the bridge to make room for the additional post-tensioning cables.
 Crews use ground penetrating radar (GPR) scanners to locate rebar in the concrete before drilling.
 Using GPR scanning, crews locate and mark rebar in the concrete before core drilling.
Expect minor traffic impacts on SW Manning St and SW Klickitat Way the next two Saturdays
While our crews complete rigging work and hoist the work platforms on the eastern span of the high bridge, people accessing Terminal 102 will be rerouted as a safety measure to avoid the work area. These traffic impacts will occur in the daytime on Saturday, January 15 and Saturday, January 22. Those travelling east and westbound on SW Spokane St will not be impacted. Detour signs will be in place for those travelling to and from Terminal 102. View the detour route map.
On Saturday and Sunday, we will repave two blocks of SW 106th St between Seola Beach Drive and 32nd Ave SW. We’ll begin this work as early as 7 AM and expect to be done by 3 PM. If you are driving on SW 106th St during this work be prepared for single lane reductions. Please anticipate traffic delays. We do not expect impacts for people walking and biking in the area.
On Saturday and Sunday, we will repave two blocks of SW 106th St between Seola Beach Drive and 32nd Ave SW. We’ll begin this work as early as 7 AM and expect to be done by 3 PM. If you are driving on SW 106th St during this work be prepared for single lane reductions. Please anticipate traffic delays. We do not expect impacts for people walking and biking in the area.
 Example of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
We’re also replacing some of our Rapid Flashing Beacons near the detour route this weekend. We’ll replace the beacon near SW Michigan St and SW Corson St in Georgetown on Saturday, then continue updating beacons on Dumar Way SW and SW Orchards St in West Seattle for the remainder of the weekend. We expect to start this work around 7 AM and conclude by 5 PM both days. There will be minimal traffic impacts to all travelers while we complete this work.
Over the next three Sundays, we'll briefly close the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) three times a day to the public. Each closure can last up to 30 minutes, which is about twice as long as the bridge is closed to traffic when it swings open for a vessel.
This year we will perform important rehabilitation upgrades to the low bridge to ensure that it remains in safe and usable condition. We will use these short-term closures to measure important deflection data for the low bridge so that future construction scaffolding will fit properly while we complete this rehabilitation work.
We are doing these short closures during off-peak periods and when there are lulls in traffic to minimize impacts to the community, including transit, freight, and other approved low bridge users.
The scheduled closure times are the same each day: during lulls in traffic around 9 AM, around 1 PM, and around 5 PM. The remaining dates for these closures are:
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Sunday, January 16
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Sunday, January 23
People driving who are authorized to use the low bridge will need to take the signed detour routes during these closures, take the trip at a different time, or wait up to 30 minutes until the bridge reopens.
People biking, walking, or rolling on the low bridge path can wait up to 30 minutes for the bridge path to reopen or they can continue south to use the 1st Ave S Bridge path.
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Flip Your Trip with 5,000 of Your Neighbors. Join 5,000 of your friends and neighbors throughout West Seattle, South Park and Georgetown by flipping your trip. We know that it is rough getting around right now and we would like to help you skip the traffic and get free rides by joining the Flip Your Trip campaign. Everyone that lives or works in West Seattle, South Park or Georgetown is eligible for $25 in free rides on the water taxi, bus and even e-scooters. Not sure what travel option would work best for you? We have ongoing trainings, events and are happy to help you figure out what will work best for your transportation needs. Sign up at FlipYourTrip.org today!
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Plan ahead for sports in Sodo. As more in-person sporting events return, you may see increased traffic on game days. Metro provides a wide range of transportation options and choices for King County. In addition to the region’s largest bus network, our choices include vanpools, paratransit services, and many new forms of transportation solutions. Learn more about upcoming events on the King County Metro website.
If you or someone you know wants to talk with us, give feedback, or could benefit from having this information read to them in another language, please call (206) 400-7511.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/bulletins/305bf3c
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