TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle low-bridge overnight closures for maintenance work May 29-31

Heads up for next weekend – SDOT plans low-bridge work next Friday-Sunday (May 29-31), with some overnght closures:

We will be doing necessary maintenance work on the controls and communications systems that are used to operate the bridge. The work will be done at night to minimize traffic impacts and because some of the systems need to be turned off during the maintenance activities.

We will be closing the low bridge to vehicle, bike, and pedestrian traffic while we are working at night because we will not be able to open and close the bridge in a normal manner. As a result, roadway traffic, including freight and buses, will be detoured to the 1st Ave or the South Park bridges. The low bridge will also be closed to bicyclists and pedestrians, and emergency vehicles will have limited access across the low bridge. Waterway traffic will be maintained.

These restrictions will only be in place at night while we are working during the following hours:

• Friday night (5/29-30): 8 PM to 5 AM
• Saturday night (5/30-31): 6 PM to 3 AM
• Sunday night (5/31-6/1): 6 PM to 3 AM (if needed)

During the day, transit, emergency vehicles, freight, bikes, and pedestrians will have access to the bridge.

Mj May 22, 2020 (10:27 am)

The 1800 closure is way too early to close the bridge for peds and bikes, it’s daylight till 2100 now!

West Seattle Hipster May 22, 2020 (11:43 am)

Agreed, SDOT strikes again.
tsurly May 22, 2020 (12:34 pm)

As someone who rides my bike or runs over that bridge five days per week, I strongly disagree. I’d much rather be slightly inconvenienced for two days and have needed maintenance performed than have an unplanned closure. You can’t have your cake and eat it to.
Anne May 22, 2020 (12:43 pm)

It’s only from 6 pm for Sat & Sun-it’s necessary for bridge controls -better over weekend nights starting at 6 than weekday. it will be ok.
Dave May 22, 2020 (1:41 pm)

So, now to check on the Water Taxi schedule for the weekend as I don’t want to ride down to the 16th Ave bridge in South Park if I am out too late this weekend.The Water Taxi is a very nice way to commute to the waterfront.
- WSB May 22, 2020 (2:36 pm)
  
  The Water Taxi doesn’t run on the weekends. Usually by this time of year it would be on the 7-days-a-week schedule, but pandemic-related reduced service is continuing TFN:
  https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/water-taxi/west-seattle.aspx

Mj May 22, 2020 (2:03 pm)

Tsurly and Anne on Friday the closure is 2000 to 0500 and Sat and Sun 1800 to 0300. Thus simply shifting the Sat and Sun work hours by two hours is feasible. I suspect more bike ped demand at 1900 than at 0400.

Anne May 22, 2020 (2:58 pm)

Well gee MJ- maybe it’s not feasible for SDOT-perhaps they have a good reason for those hours- but -guess it’s just easier to think they’re out to mess with everyone.
bill May 22, 2020 (10:31 pm)

@MJ: The crews doing the work might appreciate a couple of hours of daylight.

Sorry, comment time is over.