West Seattle Bridge Program
Updated November 28, 2022
What's Happening Now?
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West Seattle Bridge is open
The West Seattle Bridge reopened on September 17, 2022 after 2 ½ years of closure, repairs, and comprehensive testing. All people driving and taking the bus are welcome on the bridge. Additionally, all restrictions on the Spokane Street Swing Bridge (low bridge) have ended. The low bridge is now open for all to use at any time.
Reconnect West Seattle Follow-Up Survey
In fall 2022, after the bridge was repaired and reopened, we conducted a follow-up survey to help us understand how the investments we made impacted the way community members traveled across the Duwamish River during the bridge closure. You can read more about the results of the survey in our accompanying report.
Key Takeaways:
- Most Respondents said their commute methods stayed the same throughout the bridge closure.
- Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, most respondents said they reduced or stopped commuting because of remote work or distance learning.
- Survey respondents reported that they used the water taxi, bikes, and buses more during the bridge closure.
- Most respondents heard about SDOT’s Flip Your Trip program.
Thank you to the 1,600 people who completed the survey and helped us learn more about travelling around West Seattle during the closure of the bridge.
Learn more about the bridge repairs
Watch our construction recap video of highlights from the West Seattle Bridge repairs. In this video, Heather Marx, Director of the West Seattle Bridge Safety Program, recaps this year’s bridge repairs and recognizes all the incredible workers and partners involved in the monumental effort to reopen the bridge. You can also watch our full collection of repair videos on our YouTube Channel.
West Seattle Bridge Program
From repairing the West Seattle Bridge, to rehabilitating the Spokane St Swing Bridge, to improving access to the low bridge for different users - and implementing more than 195 traffic mitigation projects to help make it easier and safer to get in and around West Seattle - the West Seattle Bridge Program is a major effort making improvements to infrastructure and in our communities. Let us help you navigate all the various projects that are happening as part of the program.
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High Bridge Repairs
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Low Bridge Access Policy Who can use the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge)?
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Reconnect West Seattle How is the City restoring travel across the Duwamish and reducing neighborhood impacts?
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West Marginal Way SW What improvements are we considering along West Marginal Way SW?
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Spokane St Swing Bridge Improvement Projects How is the City keeping the low bridge strong and reliable?
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Travel Options What are ways you can get into and around West Seattle, and help minimize community impacts?
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Community Task Force Who is on the Community Task Force and how can I follow along?
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Home Zone Program What improvements is the City making to calm traffic during the bridge closure?
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Project Overview
On March 23, 2020, we closed the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge (high bridge) to all vehicle traffic. The sudden announcement to close the bridge stemmed from regular inspections that indicated accelerated growth of new and existing structural cracks.
Historically, the high bridge is the city's most-used bridge, carrying an average of over 100,000 cars, trucks, and buses every day. The closure has caused a significant disruption to traffic in West Seattle, Duwamish Valley neighborhoods, and in Seattle as a whole.
On November 19, 2020, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she instructed the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to restore travel across the Duwamish by repairing the high bridge. She also directed SDOT to continue early design work for an eventual replacement of the bridge. Watch the Mayor's announcement on YouTube.
We are now performing the final repairs on the bridge and the bridge is expected to reopen in September 2022.
West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Alternate Routes Map
Signs are in place to guide people through the new routes over alternative crossings of the Duwamish Waterway.
Read the latest about the West Seattle Bridge on the SDOT Blog
To view SDOT blogs about the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Program, visit sdotblog.seattle.gov/tag/west-seattle-bridge/.
Project materials
- Summer 2021 public meeting presentation (07/22/2021) English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese, Khmer, Somali, Oromo
- INFRA Grant Final Narrative (03/2021)
- INFRA Grant Letters of Support (03/2021)
- Cost-Benefit Analysis (10/2020)
- Cost-Benefit Analysis Appendices (10/2020)
- Reconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan (09/2020)
- TAP Recommendations (7/13/2020)
- Conceptual Modes of Failure (5/15/2020)
- Delridge/Chelan/Marginal Way Intersection Paving Fact Sheet (4/22/2020)
- Bridge Recommendations (3/20/2020)
- Bridge Recommendations (2/21/2020)
- Bridge Inspection (1/7/2020)
- Bridge Inspection (7/23/2019)
- Bridge Monitoring Summary (1/18/2019)
- Bridge Inspection (8/8/2018)
- Bridge Inspection (8/14/2017)
- Bridge Inspection (8/3/2016)
- Bridge Inspection (9/23/2015)
- Inspection Report (10-2-2014)
- HDR Report (3/17/2014)
- Crack Memo (9/30/2013)
- Special Bridge Inspection (8/26/2013)
- Inspection Report (7/5/2013)
Other Resources
- For businesses, Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED) is here to help. For more information on available resources and support for small businesses, please visit the OED website. OED also is collecting information in an Economic Impact Survey and you can learn more about their summary of the federal CARES Act.
Community Engagement
We are committed to working with the community to keep you informed of progress and milestones as we rehabilitate the bridge. We will seek your continued feedback on how to improve mobility and safety for West Seattle, as well as the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods. Thank you to everyone who has helped us make this project better with your ongoing engagement.
Learn more, get involved, and tell us what you think:
- Invite us to meet virtually with your neighborhood group, local business, or place of worship.
- Email or call us at WestSeattleBridge@seattle.gov or (206) 400-7511 to let us know how to improve safety and mobility in your neighborhood.
- Sign up to receive regular program update emails.
- Read the summary of our outreach findings in English, Español, af Soomaali, 繁體中文, 한국어, ភាសាខ្មែរ, Oromiffa, and Tiếng Việt.