LOW-BRIDGE UPDATE: Closure may continue all week, SDOT says

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SDOT has just provided another update on repairs of the West Seattle “low bridge,” closed since last Wednesday night for emergency hydraulic repairs. Now it says the work – first described as “at least a week” – might last until the end of this week. Today, SDOT says, “the Roadway Structures crew is moving a 15-ton replacement cylinder [SDOT photo above] into its exact place, inside the west shore pier house” of what’s officially the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, which is 27 years old. SDOT’s update adds, “The nearly 30,000-pound cylinder must be installed per specific controls, right down to cleaning it, along with reconnecting hydraulic oil lines, rewiring electrical conduit, etc. There’s also continuous monitoring and testing along the way … It all means there are several more days of hard work ahead.” SDOT says it expects to “know more tomorrow” about a potential reopening date. Meantime, it’s continuing weekday morning and afternoon bicycle shuttles – times and location are in the update.

JordanP June 25, 2018 (3:09 pm)

Kudos to the Seattle DOT for having a spare on hand. The thought of them having to have a new cylinder built or having to pull the existing one, refurbish it and then reinstall it is daunting. Without the spare it would likely have been months with no low bridge. Remember this the next time they build something and have some expensive spare parts built at the same time. In the long run the cost can be more than justified.

T Rex June 25, 2018 (3:36 pm)

OMG!!! We are going to need emergency counseling in a van down by the river!!!!!

MJ June 25, 2018 (4:37 pm)

Several more days of hard work, what about overtime to get the job done quicker? This is the bike route in and out of WS.

WSB June 25, 2018 (4:51 pm)

If you follow the link to the SDOT update, it notes the crew worked four consecutive 12-hour days and got only Sunday off.
grateful for exercise June 25, 2018 (9:46 pm)

I’m aware that not everyone can make the trip down to the 1st Ave Bridge. That said, I’m glad I found a new way to/from work that’s more of a challenge and off the beaten path. After the bridge is fixed, I think I’m going to continue going up and over 35th on Morgan to get down to the Duwamish trail where the bridge’s bike lane is. Glass half full!

Mike June 25, 2018 (6:06 pm)

I’m impressed it’s not months

Don Brubeck June 26, 2018 (7:56 am)

Thank you to the SDOT crews for your hard work in getting the bridge back in operation, and for catching the problem before it caused serious damage. It’s a vital route for bike commuting and for freight movement by trucks, ships and barges.

Mark47n June 26, 2018 (11:41 am)

Speaking as an industrial tradesman I can say that this is a very complex and exacting task. Failing to get this right the first time will result in it being damaged and possibly irreparable for an indeterminate amount of time. This bridge is NOT the only way in to downtown, it’s merely the shortest and easiest. otherwise you could find yourself looking at either the 1st Ave S bridge or the S. Park bridge for a bike.Before you get your knickers in a knot, or chamois in a snarl, consider your options from a failed rush job. I say this, by the way, as a regular cycle commuter.