Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) closing to people driving, walking and biking October 7 – 14

Turn cylinder SDOT removed from the low bridge in January 2023 for refurbishment.

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Summary:

• The Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) is a vital connection across the West Duwamish Waterway, particularly for people biking or walking and for truck drivers and workers accessing Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 5.
• The structure was built in 1991 and opens for marine vessels around 1,500 times yearly.
• Planning, design, and construction for the initial phase of the Spokane St Swing Bridge Rehabilitation Program took place from 2020 to 2022.
• Subsequent phases of this work will continue into 2025.
• Travel resources exist for people traveling around Duwamish Valley communities and to and from West Seattle while the Spokane St Swing Bridge is closed.
• In this email you can find recommendations on how to get around during the closure using different modes of transportation:
  • Riding the bus
  • Riding the Water Taxi
  • Driving or carpooling on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge)
  • Freight and business access to Harbor Island and Terminal 5

As part of our proactive maintenance efforts, we carried out the initial phase of the Spokane St Swing Bridge Rehabilitation Program from 2020 to 2022.

These efforts included injecting epoxy resin into existing cracks in the low bridge and adding carbon-fiber wrapping in several locations on both interior and exterior surfaces to strengthen the bridge. Construction for the second phase of projects began in 2022 and will continue into 2025.

The next step in the maintenance process is to reinstall the turn cylinder that was removed from the low bridge’s east pier housing last winter for refurbishment.

This will require us to close the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) to all vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic from Saturday, October 7 through Saturday, October 14, 2023. 

Map of the route that people should take to enter Terminal 5 during the closure.

Map of the route that people should take to exit Terminal 5 during the closure.

When the east pier’s cylinder was removed last December, preparations to overhaul all four of the bridge’s hydraulic turning cylinders were already underway as part of this comprehensive repair and maintenance effort.

When the unexpected damage to that cylinder occurred, the planning work we had already completed enabled us to quickly develop a response plan and likely allowed us to complete repairs sooner than if we had been starting from scratch.

The next step in the maintenance process is to reinstall the turn cylinder that was removed from the low bridge’s east pier housing last winter for refurbishment.

How the Spokane St Swing bridge turn and lift cylinders, and hydraulic pumps, work together.

Bridge closures are a real challenge, and we appreciate your patience as we complete these critical repairs. Travel resources exist for people driving, walking, or biking around Duwamish Valley communities and to and from West Seattle while the low bridge is closed. Here are some options to get around during the closure:

Riding the bus

The bus is a reliable option to get to many destinations on both sides of the Duwamish Waterway. Buses travel via the high bridge and can be used by people walking, riding conventional bikes, and in wheelchairs. Buses are the fastest way to get across the Duwamish Waterway without driving.

We encourage you to visit King County Metro’s trip planner page to find the latest bus route and schedule information for your trip.

Riding the Water Taxi

King County operates the West Seattle Water Taxi, which provides direct service from West Seattle to downtown Seattle, with full service 7 days per week through the winter, except for select holidays. Their large vessels can store up to 26 bikes at a time.

Driving or carpooling on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge)

The high bridge remains open to drivers and offers a direct connection for many travelers to reach their destinations. There are currently no restrictions on vehicle access. This bridge is not accessible to pedestrians or people biking. Signs are posted in various locations stating this.

Freight and business access to Harbor Island and Terminal 5

Truck drivers, Port workers, and other people who need to access Harbor Island and Terminal 5 are still able to do so, though they need to be aware of the route before making their trip. Access to Harbor Island remains available from the east via SW Spokane St, before reaching the Spokane St Swing Bridge, as shown in the maps below. For those traveling to Terminal 5 from the east, please use alternate routes, such as the West Seattle high bridge.

To support travelers impacted by the closure, and to help make transit access easier and more affordable, we’ve partnered with King County Metro to make it even easier to ride the bus or West Seattle Water Taxi  with Transit Go Tickets throughout the closure. This offer will provide a daily round trip over the Duwamish while the bridge is closed. To access the offer, follow the directions below using the Transit Go Ticket app and rewards code LOWBRIDGE. The fares are funded by the Seattle Transit Measure, which was passed by voters in 2020.

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How to access bus and water taxi credits during the low bridge closure:

1. Download the Transit Go Ticket app and create an account. 
2. Click on “Rewards,” select “More,” then tap “Rewards Code” and enter code LOWBRIDGE.    
3. Tap “Claim” and then the "Redeem" tab; you will see “Low Bridge Closure” tickets available for King County Metro Bus or King County Water Taxi.   
4. Select the ticket of your choice and tap “Redeem for Free” and “View Ticket.” You can see your tickets any time under “Use”. 
5. When you are ready to ride, tap on your ticket and then “Activate”; show it to your transit operator.   
6. Visit “Redeem” to follow these steps again for your reverse trip. 
7. Once you’ve used this code, it will allow you to redeem two tickets for each day the bridge is closed (while supplies last).  Just visit Redeem tab in Rewards for those additional tickets. 

Over the next two years, we will be doing additional maintenance and upgrade work on the low bridge that will require short-term closures of the bridge to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, including control and communications system upgrades and lift cylinder replacement. We will share more details about the timing of these closures as planning efforts continue.