LANDER STREET BRIDGE: Long-in-the-works SODO overpass close to completion

(SDOT photo)

With the West Seattle Bridge closed, more people are using 1st and 4th to get into downtown, and that means the Lander Street Bridge – to get people over the tracks inbetween – will be even more useful than envisioned, once it opens. That’s finally in view – this fall, says SDOT in a new update. (Pre-construction, it was estimated for early 2020, and that was after it had been on hold for a decade, until the city committed to build it as part of the Move Seattle levy.) Here’s what SDOT sent as a “mid-summer update”:

Update on pedestrian path

We shifted the pedestrian path onto the Lander St Bridge in late July. Now that the pedestrian path is on the bridge, people walking and riding bikes will no longer be able to cross over the railroad tracks at “ground level”. As we work to install features of the mixed-use path, we ask that all pedestrians pay close attention to active work zones, fenced-off areas, and minor shifts to the pedestrian path and pedestrian signage. We also ask people riding bikes to dismount and walk their bikes over the bridge.

Note to pedestrians with accessibility needs

The new bridge is sloped to get over the railroad tracks. We advise those that usually experience difficulties with similar slopes elsewhere in Seattle to plan ahead and consider other options that may be available. Those who experience difficulties with slopes could use the next parallel streets – S Holgate or S Horton St – or employ resources made available through King County’s Access Transportation or ADA Paratransit services. You can learn more about these services by calling (206) 263-3113 or by visiting (this link).

Cycling through SODO

With our project wrapping up in the next couple months, we want to preview how the Lander St Bridge integrates into the surrounding bicycle network. Check out the map below to see how the bridge connects people riding bikes to the broader Seattle bicycle network.

Schedule update

We are on pace to reach substantial completion of the Lander St Bridge this fall. At that point, we will have completed bridge work and intersection connections, opened the S Lander St Bridge to vehicle traffic, and crews will be working on a few remaining items on our punch list.

Upcoming work:

We are currently working on the signal configurations and road connections at 1st Ave S and S Lander St. This work will last several weeks. Please pay attention to temporary lane shifts as you navigate the area. We will continue pouring concrete for walls and sidewalks in the coming weeks. This work is weather dependent.

16 Replies to "LANDER STREET BRIDGE: Long-in-the-works SODO overpass close to completion"

  • Weaver August 1, 2020 (4:46 pm)

    Just wondering what the actual construction time is..hasn’t it been under construction for literally years?

  • driver August 1, 2020 (4:56 pm)

    Thank you for the update. Good to know the end is near.

  • Mj August 1, 2020 (5:44 pm)

    Rolled across today, it looks like work on final touches in process now

  • M August 1, 2020 (7:18 pm)

    I biked acrossed it a couple days ago.  On my way back, I had a smile on my face as I looked down and saw 2 trains going through and I didn’t have to stop and wait for it!

  • KBear August 1, 2020 (7:24 pm)

    If only we could get there. 

  • Mr J August 1, 2020 (8:57 pm)

    This was being planned when I worked in SODO circa 2008. So happy it’s close to completion. 

  • Kathy August 1, 2020 (10:58 pm)

    The bike/pedestrian trail when complete is on the north side of the bridge. When biking eastbound on the bridge, how are you supposed to get to the light rail station and the SODO trail? Bike in the crosswalk and on the sidewalk?  The map shows sharrows going down the middle of Lander. How do you get to the eastbound sharrows from the NW corner of Lander/4th Ave SW where the bridge ends? Will there be a diagonal bike crossing?  The map does not really make this clear. I would have hoped SDOT would have the details for this in place at this stage of the project. It’s not really a connected bike network if you have to zig zag on crosswalks and bike on sidewalks.

    • Joe Z August 2, 2020 (7:55 am)

      Coming from W Seattle I usually take Colorado Ave north to Lander, at that point one could cross to the N side of Lander by Home Depot but that would only make sense if there is bike infrastructure on the N side all the way to the light rail / SODO bikeway. In a practical situation I’ll probably just bike in traffic which is incredibly disappointing but typical of SDOT. 

      • bill August 3, 2020 (10:41 pm)

        Eastbound on Lander at 1st I can see using the left turn lane to reach the sidewalk, so there is no delay there vs going straight in the general traffic lane. But on the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge one will have to negotiate the crowd waiting at the bus stop. If you continue on the sidewalk to the SODO trail there may be more heavy pedestrian traffic between the bus stop and the light rail station. This makes staying in the general traffic lane across the bridge the quicker way, particularly for a strong rider or an e-biker. Sorry drivers, too bad SDOT didn’t give slow bikes their own eastbound lane on the bridge! But drivers know the solution is to cross the double yellow line and illegally force oncoming traffic out of your way. There will continue to be no good way to turn left onto the SODO trail from Lander, but hey pressing the pedestrian button to stop the cars is good fun!

  • wseaturtle August 1, 2020 (11:59 pm)

    China would have had that thing finished in 2 weeks. Seattle 2 years.  To bad we can’t get over there to enjoy it.

  • Diane August 2, 2020 (12:27 am)

    kind of appalled they can just say re ADA, “plan ahead” and go find another way to get there

    • Sarah August 2, 2020 (7:38 am)

      Agreed—in 2020 there’s no way “Tough luck” should be the official messaging.

      • bill August 3, 2020 (10:26 pm)

        Yeah, “Those who experience difficulties with slopes could use the next parallel streets – S Holgate or S Horton St”. That’s rich. You’re supposed to trundle your wheelchair half a mile to a street without sidewalks, then negotiate the broken, graveled, and potholed shoulders while heavy truck traffic thunders by. Does no one at SDOT with maturity or life experience review these press releases? It would have been better to omit this helpful tip entirely.

  • Robert W Seitz August 12, 2020 (2:50 pm)

    I find it quite humorous that they suggest either Holgate or Horton street as alternate for physically disabled. Neither one of these streets has a working sidewalk and with broken pavement and railroad tracks to contend with I do not have a times I’ve seen people in the middle of the street trying to get through.

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