A contractor working for Seattle Department of Transportation started cleaning and painting the handrails on the sidewalks along the Ballard Bridge approaches, the raised roadways at each end of the bridge, this week.

The sidewalk on the east side of the bridge is closed through Aug. 30.

On Aug. 31, or shortly thereafter, the sidewalk on the west side will close for three weeks.

The sidewalks will be closed 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and will reopen for weekends.

The public stairway is partially closed. Access to the west sidewalk is open, but access to the east sidewalk is closed. This situation will reverse when the contractor moves the handrail painting to the west side of the bridge.

Detour signs direct pedestrians to the side not being painted.

Bicyclists are encouraged to use either the Ballard Locks or the Fremont Bridge.

Alternately, if using a detour route is a hardship, bicyclists may use the sidewalk not being painted. But, due to the narrowness of the sidewalks and the contra-flow bike traffic, bicyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the bridge.

The moveable part of the bridge will be painted next year under a separate contract.

The painting is part of a number of long-term improvements, including seismic work and new lighting, planned for the Ballard Bridge. For more information, click here.