West Seattle Bridge Program Weekly Update: Friday, July 22, 2022

Department of Transportation logo large

West Seattle Bridge Weekly Update  

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


Watch our June progress video 

June Progress Video Screen Grab

In June 2022, we completed assembling the cable ducts and temporary supports for the post-tensioning system. The cable ducts create a system to hold and protect the steel cables used for post-tensioning. We also completed the initial phase of carbon fiber wrapping. Watch our latest progress video to see more. 


High bridge repair: Steel cable tensioning underway

Tensioning graphic

This week marked major progress for the West Seattle Bridge final repairs. After we finished installing the nearly 250,000 feet of steel cable needed for the new post-tensioning system inside the bridge last week, we started the process of tightening the post-tensioning system by pulling on the cables with hydraulic equipment. This type of equipment is fitted over the steel cables and uses a highly pressured liquid to strongly pull and tighten each cable.

We completed the first phase of the tensioning process earlier this week by tightening each steel cable to about 20% of its final tension force. We are tightening each cable in a specific sequence to ensure that the bridge structure is compressed evenly and consistently throughout the process.

We’re now increasing the tensioning so that the steel cables are tightened to 100% of their final tension force.

Once the cables are fully tensioned, we’ll begin our final phase of epoxy crack injection and carbon-fiber wrapping work.

Hydraulic equipment image

We use hydraulic equipment to tighten each steel cable, as shown in this photo above. Once the cables are fully tensioned the concrete in the bridge structure will be stronger than ever.

Steel Cables

As the steel cables are pulled through the hydraulic equipment, we measure them to ensure that the bridge structure is compressed evenly and consistently throughout the process.

We also completed more maintenance work on and near the bridge this week. This included setting the replacement sign structures, demolishing and replacing concrete panels on the western approach to the bridge structure, and continuing concrete pours on the Fauntleroy Expressway.


Construction in West Seattle and South Park this weekend

On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be repairing sidewalks and building curb ramps on 37th Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW. We’ll begin working as early as 8 AM and conclude by 4 PM. During this work, we’ll need to close a northbound travel lane. People driving should anticipate delays while traveling in the area.

Also on Saturday and Sunday from 7 AM to 5 PM, we’ll be paving the eastern side of 35th Ave SW between SW Morgan St and SW Holly St. Traffic impacts include closing one lane in each direction. Parking will also be restricted while we complete this work. Please navigate the area with caution. 

Construction

Last weekend, we completed the paving project on Myers Way S near the intersection with Olson Pl SW.

On Saturday, we’ll continue updating signal lights on 7th Ave S and S Cloverdale St in South Park. We do not expect significant impacts to travelers because we’ll be working from the side street on 7th Ave S.


Question of the week: What is the best way to stay updated on the West Seattle Bridge reopening timeline?

The best way to stay informed about the West Seattle Bridge reopening timeline is to sign up for our weekly Friday emails, which if you’re reading this you’ve probably already done! Share this email sign-up link with a friend, neighbor, coworker, family member, or anyone who you think would like to stay updated on the West Seattle Bridge Program.

You can also stay updated by visiting the SDOT Blog, following SDOT on Facebook and Twitter, or by reading the “What’s Happening Now” sections of our webpages.


Other news to know: Reconnect West Seattle Quarterly Report, Seattle Transportation Plan, Flip Your Trip Program

  • Check out our Reconnect West Seattle Quarterly Report – Q2 2022. In case you missed it this week, we shared our latest quarterly report on Reconnect West Seattle. We have completed 59 of the 70 Reconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan projects from 2020-2022. We have completed 51 of the 64 Home Zone project elements. And we have completed 275 traffic mitigation projects since March 2020. Read the report here.
  • Seattle Transportation Plan: Help reimagine how we move around the city. The Seattle Transportation Plan is our commitment to building a safe, efficient, and affordable transportation system. On the Seattle Transportation Plan Online Engagement Hub, you can take a new survey, come to an upcoming event, and tell us where you see places for change.
  • Flip Your Trip offers support and free rides to those who live or work in West Seattle. Sign up today at FlipYourTrip.org to receive a special welcome bonus worth $25 in FREE trips you can use on transit, water taxi, and bike/scooter-share (using the Transit GO Ticket app)—as well as the first month free on Metro vanpools, personalized trip planning, informational events, and more.

Phone line in community languages

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.     

  • 如果您需要此信息翻譯成中文請致電(206) 400-7511.     
  • Kung kailangan mo ang impormasyon na ito na nakasalin sa (206) 400-7511.     
  • Tagalog mangyari lamang na tumawag sa (206) 400-7511.     
  • Si necesita traducir esta información al español, llame al (206) 400-7511.     
  • Odeeffannoon kun akka siif (206) 400-7511.     
  • Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này chuyển ngữ sang tiếng Việt xin gọi (206) 400-7511.     
  • የዚህንመረጃትርጉምከፈለጉ፣በዚህስልክቁጥርይደውሉ፡(206) 400-7511.     
  • ናይዚሓበሬታትርጉምእንተደሊኹም፣በዚቁጽሪስልኪይድውሉ፡(206) 400-7511.     
  • 당신이번역이정보를필요로하는경우에, (206) 400-7511전화해주십시오