WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Platform-raising Saturday; testing closures Sunday; party-planning postscript

Three West Seattle Bridge notes tonight:

NEXT PLATFORM GOES UP SATURDAY: The photo above shows the first work platform for the high-bridge repairs, raised on a Saturday earlier this month. SDOT confirmed late today that the other platform, further east, is set to go up this Saturday. That means some traffic impacts for people headed to/from the south end of Harbor Island, per SDOT’s alert:

While crews are hoisting work platforms on the eastern span of the high bridge, people accessing Terminal 102 will be rerouted as a safety measure to avoid the work area. These traffic impacts will occur in the daytime on Saturday, January 29. Those travelling east and westbound on SW Spokane St will not be impacted. Detour signs will be in place for those travelling to and from Terminal 102. View the detour route map.

LOW-BRIDGE TESTING CLOSURES ON SUNDAY: The last of five Sundays with short closures for low-bridge-repair preparations – testing and measurements – is also this weekend. Around 9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm, the low bridge will be closed to all surface traffic for up to half an hour at a time.

PARTY-PLANNING POSTSCRIPT: Back on Monday, we reported on the start of community-led planning for some sort of celebration once the bridge reopens. We asked SDOT at the time what kind of parameters it had given, and also whether it was prepared to contribute any money toward such a plan. To the first point, spokesperson Mariam Ali said the department is “open to hearing ideas and exploring how SDOT can support community-led planning.” To the second, “We’re looking into how we’ll be funding community celebrations related to the openings.”

P.S. For those who were wondering about the next public bridge briefing via the Community Task Force, it meets again in two weeks, at 4 pm February 10th.

1994 January 27, 2022 (10:18 pm)

How about the SDOT give the public a number of ‘bicycle Sunday’ options to access, from the west end only, the West Seattle Bridge while it remains under repair? If it is safe for contract repair workers it should be safe for the rest of the public to access without motorized vehicles/bikes. They could open the bridge with a controlled entry, during certain well publicized hours, for non-motorized wheel users and people on foot. This would not cost much money besides paying someone at the west end to monitor the people accessing the bridge for the bicycle Sundays. Make it a one way affair to enter and depart from the west end. The term bicycle Sunday comes from the SDOT’s summer closures on certain Sundays of a section of Lake Washington Blvd for non-motorized use.

Foop January 28, 2022 (12:02 am)

There are large holes cut into the surface of the bridge currently, that would be unsafe and a liability. But also as a cyclist, I have zero interest in going up there on a bike.
- mark47n January 28, 2022 (8:14 am)
  
  To comply with OSHA’s requirements for fall protection there would have to be barricades erected around large openings where someone might fall through, otherwise personnel would require fall protection harnesses and the attendant equipment to be within 6′ of those openings. I’m going to presume that the contractor(s) are going with option A, barricades or covering the openings.
Auntie January 28, 2022 (10:22 am)

How about NO. Let’s not spend any more time or money on anything but getting the bridge open.

AlkiBean January 28, 2022 (7:50 am)

Just open the damn thing…we don’t need no stinking party!

Lucy January 28, 2022 (8:47 am)

Agreed!

Bridge Guy January 28, 2022 (9:06 am)

I have an idea: How about the night BEFORE they reopen the bridge, we all get to watch each city council member get in their cars at 10pm, and attempt to make their way from 99 or I-5 to the West Seattle Junction via the lower bridge. Just by following the wonderful signs & lane markings & under the fantastic bright street lights that the city provided after the bridge shut down. THAT would be fun!

stan January 28, 2022 (12:44 pm)

right on bridge guy. guaranteed they would all get lost. on the other hand it has been nice that the closed bridge has kept our island less crowded because of the longer drive over plus confusion thanks to the lack of decent signage to get here.

Will January 28, 2022 (11:15 am)

Just open the bridge. Give us a date when it will open.

OMGReally January 28, 2022 (3:52 pm)

Patting yourself on the back and celebrating a major bridge in a major city taking over two years to open back up. Don’t ever change, Seattle. <3

Alki island January 28, 2022 (6:00 pm)

This a great read! Thanks to everyone in “the know” for sharing with the rest of us and for everyone throwing out ideas and as always… thanks for the humor – so good for the soul ❤️