More than 100-year-old Ballard Bridge will shut down for makeover
Sep 27, 2024, 1:29 PM | Updated: Sep 28, 2024, 4:32 am
A wide shot of the Ballard Bridge. (Photo courtesy of SDOT)
(Photo courtesy of SDOT)
President Woodrow Wilson was in The White House when the original Ballard Bridge in Seattle was erected in 1917. Back then, it was a wooden trestle that featured a streetcar connecting the Ballard and Interbay neighborhoods. In 1939, the city replaced the wooden structure with concrete and removed the rails.
Fast forward to 2024 and the bridge is getting a makeover as part of the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project. The remodel includes earthquake safety measures created by strengthening the north end of the Ballard Bridge. This includes strengthening the bridge’s cap beams, columns, footings and abutments, along with installing ground anchors, repairing cracks and damaged concrete and replacing worn out bridge expansion joints.
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Repaving the entire length of the bridge is a vital part of the project because it extends the lifespan and restores the road condition of a critical piece of Seattle’s transportation network, which is part of Seattle’s freight route. The repaving portion is a component of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) obligation to pave up to 180 lane-miles of arterials by the end of 2024, which was agreed upon with the Levy To Move Seattle project.
A lot of work is needed in order to stay on schedule. If all goes as planned, SDOT will need four consecutive weekend closures to complete the game plan.
Here are the scheduled closure dates:
- Thursday-Monday
- Oct. 4-7
- Oct. 11-14
- Oct. 18-21
Lane closures may begin as early as 7 p.m. on Fridays, with the bridge fully closed at 10 p.m. The bridge is expected to reopen by approximately 5 a.m. the following Monday.
During these hours, pedestrians and cyclists will have access to cross the bridge. At times, crews may block access if it is determined unsafe. The drawbridge will remain in the down position, meaning any vessel taller than 44 feet will not be able to pass beneath the span.
Weather: 70-degree days, 7 p.m. sunsets ending this week with fall arriving
Detours will send drivers to Aurora Avenue where they can cross the Aurora Bridge to gain access to Queen Anne, downtown or Interbay.
Work is weather permitted.
Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Nate’s stories here. Follow Nate on X and email him here. Head here to follow KIRO Newsradio Traffic’s profile on X.
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