TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle ‘low bridge’ now closed for at least a week

Just a reminder – that’s what you’ll see at the west end of the West Seattle “low bridge” across the Duwamish River, officially the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, now closed for at least a week of emergency repairs. SDOT’s sudden shutdown of the 27-year-old bridge – one of a kind – was announced just a few hours in advance. Discussion following our first story published this afternoon includes some helpful information and reader-to-reader Q&A about getting around; SDOT advises bicycle riders to use the 1st Avenue S. Bridge:

From West Seattle:

Detour signs are placed at the West Seattle Bridge Trail, to head south along West Marginal Way; crossing SW Michigan St onto 1st Ave S

From SODO:

Detour signs are placed along 1st Ave S to continue south, to SW Michigan St

If you are on foot or on two wheels, the West Seattle Water Taxi also will get you across the bay – here’s the schedule.

TRAFFIC INFO DURING THE CLOSURE: We track traffic/transit every morning and will be keeping even closer watch during this closure, starting earlier in the morning as of tomorrow. And as we’ve been mentioning since last weekend, remember that SB Highway 99 will be closed between downtown and the West Seattle Bridge from Friday night until Sunday morning. And you can check West Seattle-relevant traffic cams on this WSB page any time.

16 Replies to "TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle 'low bridge' now closed for at least a week"

  • Mark June 20, 2018 (10:56 pm)

    My bet is the bridge wont be opened again until October. Any takers?

    • bolo June 20, 2018 (11:58 pm)

      Why, are you remembering the west portion of the WS Bridge project when they installed the wrong parts (pads were too thin?) and then had to wait for new steel to be fabricated and shipped in from Montana before they could redo it?

      If we are lucky, the low bridge is not SDOT responsibility.

  • WS Bridger June 20, 2018 (11:10 pm)

    This should be fun 

  • NW June 21, 2018 (6:34 am)

    Anyone recall the van and trailer provided to stow bicycles to make the crossing in the 80s? 

    • Guy Olson June 21, 2018 (8:28 am)

      I was just looking through the history on it and it showed a photo of it. White Ford van with trailer.

    • M June 21, 2018 (10:55 am)

      Yes I remember the van.  I lead weekly bike rides and we filled up the trailer with bikes every Wednesday evening.

  • Ann June 21, 2018 (6:44 am)

    The sign/signal on Delridge that indicates you should choose the upper bridge was not flashing at 6:40am. 

    • WSB June 21, 2018 (6:57 am)

      We’ve had recent reports that it wasn’t working and I know that was reported to SDOT. This may add a new level of urgency if they haven’t tried fixing it yet.

  • West Sea Neighbor June 21, 2018 (7:15 am)

    First morning of the alternate bike commute. I don’t mind the extra miles, but I forgot how unsafe feeling riding on 1st Ave can be on weekday mornings/afternoons (a freight train was blocking access to E Marginal north of Spokane). There sure are a lot of weird traffic patterns to navigate in order to make it work. Hopefully the repairs truly only take a week.

    • datamuse June 21, 2018 (8:37 am)

      Yeah, that route is…interesting, to say the least.Fortunately (?) for me, this closure coincides with a broken ankle, so I’m not riding anyway.

  • Naomi June 21, 2018 (7:23 am)

    I expected the 7:25am Water Taxi to be fuller. It’s got tons of room. There is also a King 5 news van in the parking lot. 

    • West Sea Neighbor June 21, 2018 (8:18 am)

      I wish they had a crossing earlier than 6:15 from West Seattle.

    • WS Resident June 21, 2018 (2:56 pm)

      There was plenty of seating room on the 7:25 but the bike rack was close to maxed out.

  • Jean June 21, 2018 (8:11 am)

    So is the upper West Seattle Bridge open this coming week?

    • WSB June 21, 2018 (8:21 am)

      It has no scheduled closures.

  • JK June 21, 2018 (11:03 am)

    The West marginal detour for cyclists is very poorly signed and once across the South Park bridge, there is no navigation assistance. Cyclists, please make sure when you cross the South Park bridge to East Marginal, to take the soft right immediately to 1st Ave to avoid routing yourself onto 99.

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