Crews to start emergency repairs on Seattle’s Aurora Bridge
Oct 31, 2019, 6:27 AM | Updated: 10:33 am
(WSDOT Flickr)
(WSDOT Flickr)
Traffic trouble for north-end commuters will continue Thursday, as crews are preparing to make emergency repairs to Seattle’s State Route 99 Aurora Bridge.
Advanced deterioration under Aurora Bridge to slow Seattle commute
This comes after inspectors found advanced steel deterioration under the bridge over the weekend.
The right lane has been closed all week as crews prepare to make repairs to the underside of the bridge deck.
Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation said the bridge will be reduced to two lanes in each direction for the duration of the repair work, which is expected to take about 10 days to complete.
Crews have developed a plan to repair a damaged support beam connection below the SR 99 #AuroraBridge. The bridge will be reduced to two lanes in each direction for approximately 10 days of work beginning @ 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. More info: https://t.co/tD8oTh6LGr pic.twitter.com/7NnuX4pDFB
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 30, 2019
“Folks who travel in the mornings are really going to need to adjust their schedules,” said WSDOT’s Bart Treece told KIRO Radio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan.
The bridge is still considered safe to cross, and pedestrian walkways will remain open in both directions. Treece told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson the big concern is really that outside lane on the bridge because it’s not handling the weight like it should. That weight is being transferred to the inside lane.
Dori: No way Aurora Bridge repairs weren’t a setup by WSDOT
WSDOT is asking commuters to consider carpooling or mass transit while the repair is underway to help ease the congestion.
Treece said the Aurora Bridge problem will not affect the start of tolling for the nearby highway 99 tunnel.
KIRO 7 staff contributed to this report
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