Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) will be closed Saturday through Sunday to people driving
 Photo of the South Spokane Swing Bridge
To keep the Spokane St Swing Bridge (commonly known as the low bridge) reliably operating, our crews will replace the tail lock cylinder, motor and hydraulic pump. Starting at 7am on Saturday, May 16, until late Sunday night, the low bridge will be closed to drivers, but not people who are walking or biking across.
For situational awareness, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) also plans to close the northbound SR 99 First Avenue South Bridge from 10pm on Friday night, May 15, until 5am Monday morning (May 18). We have coordinated with them to ensure that these two closures will not directly affect each other. Our work on the Spokane St Swing Bridge will still occur even with WSDOT’s closure if the First Ave South Bridge. People looking for a detour route should use the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge.
Context and drop-down links:
- 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 throughout 2026.
- The work taking place this weekend will be to replace motor, pump, and tail lock cylinder on the west side of the bridge.
- Travel resources exist for people traveling around Duwamish Valley communities and to and from West Seattle while the Spokane St Swing Bridge is closed.
- Use these links to view recommendations on how to get around during the closure.
 Picture of the tail lock shaft on the approach-bridge side that is extended into the swing span to lock the structure together.
Riding the bus
The bus provides a reliable option to get to many destinations on both sides of the Duwamish Waterway without driving. Buses travel via the high bridge and can be used by people walking, riding conventional bikes, and in wheelchairs.
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)
As mentioned above, 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 detour 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 map below. For those traveling to Terminal 5 from the east, please use alternate routes, such as the West Seattle high bridge.
 The map above shows different routes to enter Harbor Island and Terminal 5 during the low bridge closure.
 The map above shows different routes to exit Harbor Island and Terminal 5 during the low bridge closure.
We appreciate your patience as we complete this critical work to keep the bridge reliably operating today and in the future.
What’s Next
Additional work on this project is expected to continue through 2026. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we complete this critical work to keep the bridge reliably operating today and in the future. To stay informed about the project, sign up to receive project updates.
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