WEST SEATTLE LOW BRIDGE: After repairs today, possible extended marine opening tonight

The problem that closed the West Seattle low bridge to vehicle traffic for hours on Wednesday, and hindered marine traffic for longer, is fixed, according to SDOT. But they put out an alert to let you know that might result in a “longer than usual’ marine opening tonight:

Earlier this week, a part broke inside the low bridge, preventing us from swinging the bridge open fully so large boats could pass through on the Duwamish Waterway below. Our bridge repair team has been working diligently to get the bridge operating again so important shipments can make it to their destinations. 

Today, we are able to complete the repair of the problem part and we expect the bridge to be working properly again late tonight. If our plan works and the bridge swings open fully, then we may keep it open for longer than usual to clear the large boats that have been waiting upriver. 

People planning on driving, walking, and biking over the bridge tonight when it’s open to marine traffic can detour to the 1st  Ave S Bridge. And remember that you can see what’s happening on the low bridge and surrounding streets by checking SDOT’s Travelers Map and clicking the camera icons nearest the bridge. 

Throughout this process, we’ve been in regular contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Seattle, and the shippers and maritime businesses located upriver of the bridge. We thank them for their collaboration, support, and patience while we worked to get everyone moving again.

Aaron November 5, 2021 (5:32 pm)

So what about those of us bicycle commuting at later hours? Are we supposed to “just” take the 1st ave S bridge too? That is kind of a long detour on a bicycle…
When will the bridge be open for an extended time?

WSB November 5, 2021 (5:42 pm)

I don’t have an estimated time but am asking.
Roms November 5, 2021 (5:45 pm)

Note that SDOT is asking pedestrians to go via the 1st Ave S bridge too. I guess they don’t really know how far it is. Or they just don’t care?
- Anne November 5, 2021 (7:14 pm)
  
  Or maybe they just need to get marine traffic moving.
- Eddie November 5, 2021 (7:31 pm)
  
  Cheez folks, they’re giving plenty of notice, to do necessary work, and explaining the (inconvenient) work around. What would you rather have them do? Make a bunch of marine traffic idling upriver for more hours/days until they can arrange for a shuttle bus to ferry a couple of people around a detour for a few hours? Or suck it up buttercup and ride around.
  - Auntie November 5, 2021 (8:16 pm)
    
    Absolutely, Eddie! Just this once, folks, instead of taking your bike or walking, you have been given ample notice and you can take the bus, can’t you?
    - bill November 5, 2021 (9:28 pm)
      
      This notice was posted at a quarter to five. How is that ample notice for a person who is already at work? Have you ever been in SODO after dark on foot? Tried waiting for a bus down there?
  - Buttercup November 5, 2021 (9:48 pm)
    
    Hey Eddie- Buttercup here. Giving notice at 4:45pm of extended closures THE SAME NIGHT is not “plenty of notice”, and does not give ANY chance of making alternate plans. Buses haven’t run late enough for me long before the pandemic, so driving or biking, is and has always been, my only option for commuting. I am commuting by bicycle throughout this bridge mess, and more than DOUBLING my commute home is BS. You obviously work from home and have no concept of what in-person workers have to deal with these days. If boat traffic has been waiting for days to go through, why not just set up a schedule of openings and post the schedule???? Why not? Oh right- planning anything seems to be a difficult thing in this city.
- Jort November 6, 2021 (7:02 am)
  
  To answer your question, no, they just don’t care. If they did, they would provide a temporary bike/pedestrian ferry of some kind during closures, even regular temporary ones. Telling a pedestrian to detour to the 1st Ave S bridge is the equivalent of gleefully telling a car driver they’ll need to detour to Centralia because of maintenance. It’s insulting.
  - Roms November 6, 2021 (3:17 pm)
    
    :-) My question was rhetorical by the way, but I see that it triggered people who are most likely working from home (I commute to my workplace most days by bicycle).

Ant November 5, 2021 (8:37 pm)

I DON’T UNDERSTAND ALL THIS BRIDGE MAINTENANCE! Such a waste of tax dollars and its messing up my commute. It’s not like bridges break!!!! …. said random posters on community blogs.

WSB November 5, 2021 (10:07 pm)

Sorry I never got an answer on the question of whether they had a preplanned time for opening the bridge to marine traffic tonight. The @SDOTbridges Twitter account suggests it was open 6:48-7:01 pm, but I don’t know if that was “the” opening or what.

Colonel Mustard's Wrench November 5, 2021 (10:53 pm)

Is SDOT just unlucky in bridge failures, or do they only know how to do “breakdown maintenance”?

Dear Mr Harrell, please make your 1st order of business after being sworn in to fire Sam Zimbabwe.

Enough is enough !

Brian Edward Zenk November 7, 2021 (8:49 am)

The 1st Ave S bridge bicycle route downtown was a scenic ride and an industrial tour that day for me. I was one of the bicyclists who did not make it over the lower bridge when it was stuck. Lucky for me another bicyclist showed up about the same time who knew the route. Everyone who rides a bicycle should ride the route once.

Sorry, comment time is over.