Shoreline pedestrian bridge delayed as Seahawks fans embrace light rail

It looks like light rail riders will not be getting their pedestrian bridge over I-5 in Shoreline on time. The project is now running behind schedule.

Last Saturday was one of the days that Shoreline had hoped to install the new pedestrian bridge over I-5.

You have likely seen the massive structure being built along the west side of the freeway for months. Shoreline had targeted Saturday, Nov. 7, or Saturday, Nov. 14, as the nights to close I-5 and lift the bridge into place. It looks like that installation has been pushed back by several months and maybe longer.

The City of Shoreline gave me this statement on Monday.

“Unfortunately, the contractor has discovered some manufacturing issues with one of the arches,” a spokesperson said. “They are currently working with the manufacturer to resolve the issue. At this point, it is unclear if the manufacturer will be able to make corrections on site with the existing arch or if they will have to make a whole new arch. It will be another couple of weeks before they know for sure, and we have a new timeline.”

Pedestrian bridge now expected to open in spring 2027

Spring of 2027 is now the anticipated opening time frame for the pedestrian bridge connecting all the new development on the west side of I-5 to the light rail station just north of NE 145th St. in north Seattle, but we’ll know soon if that will be pushed as well. Construction might have to start over from scratch.

I took a long look at that new pedestrian bridge as I took light rail from Lynnwood to the Seahawks game on Sunday. As you would expect, light rail has become a very popular option to leave the car at home and get to events in Seattle.

Our 1 Line train was filled with Hawks fans, but it looks like the 2 Line is really doing a booming business on game days. I have always said that light rail would not make much of a difference in our region until it got across Lake Washington. Now that it has, it sounds like Hawks fans on the east side are falling in love with the service.

Eastside Seahawks fans turn to park-and-rides for game-day trips

Sound Transit spokesperson David Jackson told me people are finding ways to make light rail work for them.

“People are figuring out how to use the regional system that we’re building to benefit them,” Jackson said. “Sometimes it’s sports fans. Sometimes it’s new doctors or new jobs, whatever, but people are finding out how light rail works for them.”

Jackson said Eastside Hawks fans are coming in from all over the area to hit the park-and-ride in South Bellevue. Many from Issaquah to North Bend are even finding it really easy to jump off I-90, park the car, and head to the game.

“It has a big park-and-ride facility,” he said. “One of the reasons it’s so popular is that it’s right off I-90. So people from Issaquah, people from further afield, will get off and park there and take the train into downtown. The other big garage on the east side is at Marymoor Village, and that sees a pretty good bump too.”

Arrive early: Game-day crowds fill light rail parking garages

Around 3,500 people are boarding at the South Bellevue Station on each game day. But be warned, you still need to get there early. It has 1,500 spaces, but it fills up. It’s always good to have a backup plan if the garage is full.

We had someone drive us to the garage in Lynnwood, just to be safe, after finding no room during a recent trip to watch the Mariners.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

Follow @https://twitter.com/newsguysully