Skip to main content

Seattle bridge repairs planned

Repairs are being planned for the West Seattle Bridge.
By MJ Woof December 1, 2020 Read time: 1 min
A repair plan has now been set for the West Seattle Bridge – image courtesy © Mariana Ianovska, Dreamstime.com
Further repair works are being planned for the troubled West Seattle Bridge in the US. The link had to be closed to traffic in March 2020 when cracks were found in the structure.

Repairing the bridge has been selected as the best option as this will cost in the region of US$47 million to carry out. By comparison, replacing the structure entirely would cost anything from $390 million to $522 million. The bridge carries around 100,000 vehicles/day, considerably more than it was designed for. Opened in 1984, the bridge later had an extra lane added.

The link has had issues in the past including a jammed bearing, as well as creep in its concrete structure and also had to cope with an earthquake.

Phase I of the repair programme is now being completed. But Phase II will require more time to carry out, with the repairs being completed by mid-2022.

The plans also call for the construction of a second bridge that will carry a light rail link, as well as cars and in addition, will have facilities for cyclists.

Related Content

  • US city of Vancouver approves new I-5 bridge
    July 18, 2022
    Vancouver in the US state of Washington and Portland in the state of Oregon are aiming for a new road bridge with the possibility of accommodating light rail transport.
  • Copy of New Midtown Tunnel open in Virginia
    January 30, 2017
    A project to construct the second Midtown Tunnel link in the US state of Virginia alongside the original connection has taken an important step forward – Mike Woof writes Commuters in the US state of Virginia will be pleased that the new Midtown Tunnel is now open to traffic, as it will help to boost capacity and cut congestion on the busy US 58 route connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth. The 1.13km tunnel link has been built to link with the interchange at Brambleton Avenue and Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk
  • New Midtown Tunnel open in Virginia
    January 30, 2017
    A project to construct the second Midtown Tunnel link in the US state of Virginia alongside the original connection has taken an important step forward – Mike Woof writes Commuters in the US state of Virginia will be pleased that the new Midtown Tunnel is now open to traffic, as it will help to boost capacity and cut congestion on the busy US 58 route connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth. The 1.13km tunnel link has been built to link with the interchange at Brambleton Avenue and Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk
  • India’s road to safety
    September 5, 2012
    India's growth rate is the envy of the world, and its infrastructure is rapidly improving, but its road safety record is the world's worst. Patrick Smith reports on a conference aimed at finding answers to the problems Ambling through the gardens and marble magnificence that is the Taj Mahal or gazing down on the city of Jaipur from the hilltop Jaigarh Fort is far removed from the world outside.