UPDATE: West Seattle low bridge reopens after getting ‘stuck’ for 2+ hours

8:30 AM: Thanks for the tip. Even if you’re authorized to use the low bridge, you can’t right now – it’s “stuck,” according to SDOT.

9:24 AM: Still stuck and no official updates (we have a message out to SDOT).

9:36 AM: SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells us, “We’re currently waiting on an update from the bridge electrician who is working to diagnose the problem.”

10:21 AM: SDOT’s live video camera shows the bridge has reopened to (authorized) traffic.

10:46 AM: SDOT attributes the problem to “electrical issues” and adds, “Bridge operators may perform a test opening and closing of the bridge this morning during a lull in traffic to confirm that the problem has been fixed and operations have returned to normal.”

11:06 AM: Update from SDOT (which says the closure lasted about 2 1/2 hours): “We have successfully completed the test opening/closing of the bridge.”

Cogburn July 9, 2022 (8:37 am)

No surprise as the city funds bridge maintenance at 9% of requirement.

Gerry July 9, 2022 (9:40 am)

Thanks for info. I need to use it today and it’s good that WS Blog is on it, as usual.

Rick July 9, 2022 (9:47 am)

Awesome. As far is West Seattle is concerned, what rhymes with “stucked”?

Alki resident July 9, 2022 (11:38 am)

That should’ve been the winning T-shirt

Guy Olson July 9, 2022 (9:58 am)

The folks waiting there with their bicycles.😬

Jay July 9, 2022 (11:21 am)

I’m a bike commuter and I hate this bridge so much. It’s so slow even when working perfectly. When it gets stuck… The detour is massive.

David July 9, 2022 (10:05 am)

Too bad for all the cheaters who have covered their license plates – you might just have to drive around like the peasants do every day.

Duffy July 9, 2022 (11:05 am)

Do we know if the city/police are going to go after these folks? There has to be dozens if not hundreds of repeat offenders that they could nail for some serious fines.
- WSB July 9, 2022 (11:59 am)
  
  We have reported on enforcement operations. Whether any recently, don’t know.
Alki resident July 9, 2022 (11:40 am)

Do you know how many people drive with NO plate at all? Hundreds.

Jordan July 9, 2022 (10:09 am)

This is why a delay on the upper bridge is not only an inconvenience, it’s potentially life threatening. In one morning, highland park is closed and now the lower bridge is stuck open. If someone has a medical emergency, that extra time even if it’s ten minutes to get to a hospital could cost someone their life. The upper bridge closure has been an emergency from the beginning. But it has not been treated as such by the city or our elected representatives. West Seattle continually is let down and neglected. I really hope someone doesn’t die needlessly because of it.

Agreed July 9, 2022 (10:42 am)

Well said. Never forget that former Mayor Durkan took four months after the bridge closed to declare it an emergency.

https://durkan.seattle.gov/2020/07/mayor-jenny-durkan-declares-the-west-seattle-high-rise-bridge-a-city-emergency-requests-state-and-federal-assistance-to-stabilize-critical-city-asset/
- Rick July 9, 2022 (1:15 pm)
  
  Well…..it wasn’t an emergency for her. That’s what really mattered.
Will July 10, 2022 (1:15 am)

JordanI’m convinced that WS doesn’t need a light rail system around here since it’s a 2 mile trip from a SODO station, and from here any route will ram through single family homes and narrow streets. INSTEAD, we can those shuttle vans similar to those in airport terminals. With what you just wrote, to lose access from any of the 2 bridges, upper and lower is really devastating for us all. We need a third bridge that serves a dual purpose, the first one being a transit only bridge, and an option should all else fail. One can construct a bridge about half a mile south of the current bridges that routes transit to a SODO station. The current low bridge for freight and other heavy semis. The top bridge soon to be fixed dedicated to private cars and light freight, namely vans. None of those metro transit buses which are too heavy for this bridge. Then we have that third bridge for transit buses only which will cost a small fraction compared to building a light rail. The current light rail plan doesn’t seem to be efficient and cost effective to be built in WS.
- Ice July 10, 2022 (2:02 pm)
  
  Buses that are too heavy for the bridge? You didn’t actually do a single second of research to make sure you weren’t just making stuff up, did you?

Tracey July 9, 2022 (10:12 am)

How did the injured in the Highland Park Way crash get taken to Harborview? Thanks SDOT and company. Turns out maintaining infrastructure saves lives.

WSB July 9, 2022 (11:00 am)

I don’t know what the transportation corridor was for that response but SDOT says the low bridge got stuck around 8 and I believe the transport happened before then, The call was bumped up to a “rescue extrication” at 7:24 am and that’s when the medic unit was sent; incident log also shows M1 arrived at the scene at 7:35.
My two cents July 9, 2022 (6:09 pm)

They are not going to route someone from highland park to the west Seattle’s bridge/Low bridge – shortest and quickest point would be through SODO/Georgetown and then to the facility. More lanes, faster traffic flow that way compared to marginal way. Your supposition doesn’t match up with the facts.

Odd son July 9, 2022 (11:18 am)

Third time in the last year or two. IIRC

pete July 9, 2022 (7:05 pm)

I got there eastbound at 07:35 and it was already no go ! Our Seattle traffic people seem to have a problem telling how long it was disfunctonal. I actually feel like throwing up when I think about our traffic problems in West Seattle

Sorry, comment time is over.