Information from Seattle Department of Transportation

With repairs on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge) complete, we shifted our focus to the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge), which served as a vital connection to West Seattle for emergency services, transit, those seeking life-saving medical treatment, and freight during the 2 ½-year high bridge closure.

This week, the low bridge project reached an exciting milestone as we finished epoxy crack injections and carbon-fiber wrapping on the interior and exterior of both spans. These methods, which we used on the high bridge, reinforce the structure’s concrete, which will prepare it to serve the community for decades to come.

We began working on the low bridge in summer 2022 when inspections teams began mapping cracks on the exterior concrete. Shortly after, we started constructing work platforms underneath the low bridge as high bridge repair work wrapped up.

Once we hoisted all four platforms up to the underside of the low bridge, we began filling cracks and applying carbon-fiber to the concrete. We repeated this process inside of the bridge’s spans. In early October, we lowered and dismantled the work platforms.

With strengthening work complete, we will continue to take steps to preserve the service life of the low bridge through other maintenance and capital projects.

Next, we’ll upgrade the bridge’s controls and communications lines, which allow it to open and close for marine traffic. We will also replace one of the hydraulic lift cylinders inside the bridge’s east pier. The lift cylinder acts as a pivot point on which the bridge can turn as it swings open and closed for marine vessels.

We’ll use this email list to keep the community updated on future low bridge project milestones. For more information, please visit the Spokane St Swing Bridge project webpage.