Deterioration forcing West Seattle Bridge to close until further notice

The high-rise West Seattle Bridge will be closed starting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, until further notice due to deterioration and cracks in the concrete found during a routine inspection.

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Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is closing the bridge for further assessment and repair. The lower level bridge will remain open for transit, freight, and first responders. All other traffic will need to use alternative routes, including the First Avenue or South Park bridges.

“Even in the midst of a pandemic, the Seattle Department of Transportation has been closely monitoring our critical infrastructure. Last night, our engineers identified safety risks in our West Seattle high rise bridge and are now taking swift action to protect the public by removing traffic from the bridge while next steps are assessed,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe said a series of closely monitored cracks have grown faster than anticipated.

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“Our engineers saw this acceleration as a clear warning sign that closer inspection is necessary, and complete closure is required to maintain safety as our top priority,” Zimbabwe said.

SDOT will put signs in place to guide people to new, alternate routes while the bridge is closed.