FOLLOWUP: 1st Avenue South Bridge work now expected to start in February

(File photo – southbound span is the one in the background)

Just last Wednesday, we checked in with WSDOT to ask about the schedule for the work that will close part of the southbound span of the 1st Avenue South Bridge (first reported here in October). Spokesperson Tom Pearce told us at the time that the hoped-for mid-January start seemed unlikely. Today, an update – they’re now hoping to start “in early February.” Here’s what WSDOT says you can expect when the work begins:

Our contract allows for up to 15 nights of work. At the start of the project we will need to close all lanes of southbound SR 99 between 10 pm and 5 am for one night so our contractor can set up their equipment. Travelers can expect about three weeks with the southbound bridge reduced to two lanes. We’ll also need a full overnight southbound closure at the end of the project to remove equipment.

As we reported last week, the contractor is Massana Construction of Gig Harbor. Today’s WSDOT update explains the work they’ll be doing on the 25-year-old southbound span, to “replace bearing pads (and) some steel repair and concrete bridge deck repairs.”

CarDriver January 11, 2021 (10:58 am)

WSB. During this closure what has SDOT said about maintaining emergency vehicle access?? They’ve made it a priority for the low bridge, would think they surely must have plans for this bridge?

reed January 11, 2021 (3:30 pm)

I will repeat it for the umteenth time so WSB doesn’t have to; the 1st Ave bridge is a WSDOT asset, not the City of Seattle’s. You’d figure someone who is so concerned about driving in the area would know such a simple fact.

Jason January 11, 2021 (11:26 am)

Before anyone starts in on this, let’s all agree not to be the person who simultaneously says “this is a bad time to close the bridge!” and “how dare our elected officials neglect bridge repair for so long!” The best time to fix a bridge that is failing is always ‘right now’.

Sarah January 11, 2021 (1:19 pm)

At least it’s at night and right before rush hour commute in the morning , plus the low bridge of the west Seattle bridge will be open because it’s free from 9pm to 5 am

Mark Baker January 11, 2021 (11:46 am)

Thanks for getting the limited information, not a lot of detail for the public on this one or maybe I just can’t find it concerning the closure impact.