West Seattle Bridge Weekly Update   

News about the week ahead for the West Seattle Bridge Program.     

• High bridge repair: Post-tensioning strand installation underway
• Low bridge rehabilitation: Raising work platforms this weekend
• Construction in West Seattle and South Park this weekend
• Port truck parking meetings in Georgetown and South Park
• Question of the week: How does post-tensioning work?
• Other news to know: Seattle Transportation Plan, Flip Your Trip Program, West Seattle Consumer Survey

High bridge repair: Post-tensioning strand installation underway

This week, we finished installing and positioning protective ducts for the new post-tensioning system and began the process of installing nearly 250,000 feet of new strands inside the bridge.

Using specialized equipment, we feed the woven steel cable strands into the protective ducts on one side of the bridge’s span and push them through to the other side. In each of the bridge's 3 spans, we will complete this process 8 times.

A spool of steel cable that will be threaded through the West Seattle Bridge’s newest post-tensioning system.

We also began compressing the concrete anchor blocks that will secure the new post-tensioning strands. This includes inserting large bolts into the block and tightening them. This process reinforces the connection between the concrete anchor block and the existing structure, allowing it to withstand 760,000 pounds of force.

The bolts shown in the bottom of this photo will be inserted into the openings in the concrete anchor block. We’ll then tighten the bolts to strengthen the concrete and prepare it for the forces of the post-tensioning strands that will make the West Seattle Bridge stronger.

These stacks of a fiber reinforced polymer material, shown above, will be used to build permanent inspection platforms inside the bridge’s girders. These platforms will allow inspectors to monitor the bridge’s concrete.

We are also preparing to install permanent inspection platforms throughout the bridge’s interior. Inspectors will use these new platforms and the bridge’s movement sensors to closely monitor the bridge’s concrete for decades to come.

Low bridge rehabilitation: Raising work platforms this weekend

Two platforms were hoisted to the underside of the low bridge’s eastern span. This weekend, we'll install similar work platforms on the underside of the low bridge's western span.

Starting tonight and continuing into Saturday, we’re lifting the new work platforms to the underside of the low bridge’s western span. We do not expect impacts to vehicle or pedestrian traffic during this work. This effort continues our low bridge rehabilitation work that will proactively strengthen the low bridge to keep it strong for years to come.

We’ll begin epoxy crack injection and carbon-fiber wrapping on to reinforce the concrete on the low bridge in the coming months. This is the same concrete strengthening method we’ve been using on the high bridge.

Construction in West Seattle and South Park this weekend

On Saturday we will be completing paving work on Marine View Dr SW between 35th Ave SW and 39th Ave SW. Paving will begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 4:30 PM. During this work, we’ll need to reduce the two travel lanes to a single lane and there may be delays for people driving.   

Also on Saturday, we will continue updating signal lights on 7th Ave S and S Cloverdale St in South Park. A majority of the work will be completed on 7th Ave S with minimal impacts to S Cloverdale St. 

On Sunday, we will be doing some additional vegetation cleanup and landscape work on Olson Place SW between 1st Ave S and SW Roxbury St. The work is anticipated to begin as early as 5 AM through 1 PM. Traffic impacts include the closure of the right-hand curb lane, the lane will reopen at 1 PM however we may extend working hours. Please anticipate delays while driving in the area.

Port truck parking meetings in Georgetown and South Park

Trucks parked along the street in Seattle.

Do you live or work in Georgetown or South Park? The City of Seattle and Port of Seattle/The Northwest Seaport Alliance will be addressing the issues related to Port truck parking in your neighborhood. Join us and let your voice be heard.

¿Trabaja o vive en Georgetown o South Park? City of Seattle y Port of Seattle/The Northwest Seaport Alliance abordarán los temas relacionados al estacionamiento de camiones del puerto en su vecindario. Acompáñenos y permita que su voz sea escuchada.

Georgetown Meeting / Reunión en Georgetown

Monday, July 11

6 – 7:30 PM

Mini Mart City Park

6525 Ellis Ave S

South Park Meeting / Reunión en South Park

Monday, July 18

6 – 7:30 PM

Duwamish River Community Hub

8600 14th Ave S

Virtual Event / Evento virtual

Thursday, July 14

6 – 7 PM

https://bit.ly/trucktractormeeting

*Food will be provided at the in-person events / *Se ofrecerá alimentación en los eventos presenciales

Please contact westseattlebridge@seattle.gov or call (206) 400-7511 if you have accessibility needs or would like to request translations. Si tiene necesidades especiales o requiere interpretación (traducción), por favor contacte a westseattlebridge@seattle.gov o llame al (206) 400-7511.

Question of the week: How does post-tensioning work?

We recently shared the latest repair methods video, which highlights the complex and highly technical process of strengthening the West Seattle Bridge by compressing the structure’s concrete with a new post-tensioning system. This new system, in combination with the epoxy crack filling and carbon-fiber wrapping work, make it possible to extend the bridge’s lifespan for decades to come.

Watch the post-tensioning video on YouTube to learn about one of the methods we use to repair the West Seattle Bridge.

Our repair method videos are a great way to see the current work being done to prepare the bridge for reopening. To watch our earlier videos, please visit our West Seattle Bridge playlist on Youtube.

Other news to know

Phone line in community languages