Admiral Way North and South Bridges Seismic Retrofit
Updated December 10, 2024
What's Happening Now?
Construction on retrofits to help the Admiral Way North and South Bridges better withstand earthquakes is ongoing! Work will be paused for the week of Christmas (December 23 through December 27) and will resume on December 30.
We’ll be transitioning into our third phase of traffic control on December 19. The two center lanes on Admiral Way SW will be closed during this phase, with one lane in each direction open for people driving. As part of this transition, the temporary crosswalk at Admiral Way SW and 39th Ave SW will be removed.
As a reminder, the segment of Fairmount Ave SW beneath the bridge is closed to people walking, biking, rolling, and driving for the duration of construction to ensure their safety and allow our crews to work as efficiently as possible. We anticipate that construction will last approximately 10 months. Construction schedules are subject to change and depend on factors such as weather and availability of crews and materials. We understand these closures will impact everyone who uses the bridge and Fairmount Ave SW regularly and we will do what we can to minimize impacts.
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Project overview
Earthquakes could have a major impact on Seattle’s infrastructure. To address these seismic risks, the City of Seattle established a bridge seismic program to assess how vulnerable the City’s bridges were to earthquakes, and to retrofit bridges to better withstand the potential impacts of an earthquake.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic retrofits, including the Admiral Way North and South Bridges. The Admiral Way North and South Bridges are older bridges built prior to modernizing the seismic design code.
The bridges are on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, above Fairmont Ave SW. While it seems like one bridge when you’re traveling on it, the Admiral Way North and South Bridges are actually two bridges, side-by-side. Both will be retrofitted, making them stronger and safer in the event of an earthquake.
We’re not planning on changing the current use and operation of the bridge. The planned seismic retrofits to the Admiral Way North and South Bridges include several modifications to strengthen existing bridge components and reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes. The following are major construction elements:
- Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen certain bridge element
- Slope stabilization
- Steel painting
- Repairing cracks and damaged concrete
- Replacing the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge
What to expect during construction
Construction began July 2024 and is anticipated to last approximately 10 months. We will continue to share information on our webpage and through regular email updates. You can sign up online to receive email updates.
To complete the work as safely and efficiently as possible, there will be lane and sidewalk closures on SW Admiral Way at the bridge throughout construction. In addition, the segment of Fairmount Ave SW beneath the bridge will be closed to people walking, biking, rolling, and driving for the duration of construction. We understand these closures will impact everyone who uses the bridge and Fairmount Ave SW regularly and we will do what we can to minimize impacts.
We currently anticipate the following construction impacts:
- Lane closures on SW Admiral Way at the bridge
- A full closure of Fairmount Ave SW during construction
- Work in the public right-of-way near your home or business
- Temporary on-street parking restrictions, with "no park" signs placed 72 hours in advance
- Staged construction equipment and materials as well as noise, dust, and vibrations in the work area
- Typical weekday work hours of 7 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday
Project Schedule
| 30% Design | Complete |
| 60% Design | Complete |
| 90% Design | Complete |
| Final Design | Complete |
| Construction Begins | July 2024 |
* The schedule is subject to change.
Construction is scheduled to last approximately 10 months. Construction schedules are also subject to change and depend on factors such as weather and availability of crews and materials.
Funding
The project is funded through the Levy to Move Seattle. Approved by voters in 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city. In addition, this project has received federal funding.
Get Involved
We're committed to keeping you informed and working with neighbors to limit construction impacts to the extent feasible. Here are some ways to get more information about the project:
- Sign up for our project listserv to receive weekly project updates
- Email the project team at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov
- Leave a voicemail at (206) 775-8734. A project representative will return your call.
Project Materials
Translation and interpretation
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