WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Yes, buses will return to the high bridge

As we continue counting down to the expected reopening of the West Seattle Bridge on Sunday, September 18th – now less than four weeks away – we’re checking on various questions readers have asked. This one’s been answered before but people are still asking, so we re-checked with Metro: Yes, the buses that formerly used the high bridge will be back on it once it re-opens; Metro’s fall “service change” is happening on Saturday, September 17th, the day before the scheduled reopening, so they’ll be issuing new timetables anyway. Per Metro spokesperson Elaine Porterfield, “Metro will return routes 21, 21X, 50, 55, 56, 57, 120, 125, and C Line to the High Bridge immediately upon reopening. Our fall service change reflects this pathway change. Routes 118 and 119 that previously traveled on the High Bridge will remain intra-Vashon Island routes.” (As for the bridge itself, if you missed our Saturday coverage, crews brought down the first of the work platforms; the rest are scheduled for removal next weekend.)

Jeff August 22, 2022 (1:56 pm)

Busses are so much better on the high bridge than 30-40 people in individual cars. I swear I don’t understand why so many think they’re engineering experts on weight and impact it has on the bridge…

nothend August 22, 2022 (6:46 pm)

3-4 people fify
- Jeff August 23, 2022 (10:59 am)
  
  Talking about several trips

Joe Z August 22, 2022 (3:48 pm)

From the bus rider perspective this is an easy and obvious decision. The good news is that car drivers will have a choice. They can choose to take either the low bridge or the high bridge starting on September 18th. I wonder which one they will choose?

PSPS August 22, 2022 (4:23 pm)

I presume we’ll still be stuck with the “Zimbabwe folly” on the 99 merge fiasco.

UncleTorvald August 22, 2022 (4:33 pm)

And here I thought I’d get the first chance to preemptively complain about traffic on the reopened bridge!

Watertowerjim August 22, 2022 (4:41 pm)

I don’t think it’s the weight of the buses at issue it’s the bus only lane and the backup it creates. It’s not efficient All that weight sitting on one side of the bridge for hours on end seems like something we’d want to avoid. I still don’t understand how buses going down Avalon aren’t better served by going lower bridge anyway – especially if cars were still prohibited.

Bus August 22, 2022 (5:22 pm)

The engineers know what that lane is used for. “That weight sitting on one side of the bridge” was considered by engineers, and accounted for. The VAST majority of weight the bridge needs to hold is the bridge itself, not the vehicles. Buses are best served by paths that don’t open intermittently. It helps them stay on schedule.
Peter August 22, 2022 (5:39 pm)

Oh, Jim, where to begin … “the bus only lane and the backup it creates,” that backup is cars and SUVs, so don’t blame buses for divers’ lifestyle choices which would result in just as much congestion even without the partial bus lane. “It’s not efficient,” actually having bus lanes makes transit much, much more efficient and saves hundreds passenger hours per day, which is a huge cost savings. “All that weight sitting on one side of the bridge for hours on end seems like something we’d want to avoid,” which the repairs are designed for, plus that weight is cars and SUVs, so once again your deflecting blame from drivers to buses. “I still don’t understand how buses going down Avalon aren’t better served by going lower bridge anyway – especially if cars were still prohibited,” the low bridge requires several more traffic lights, regular bridge openings, and cars are not going to be prohibited, all of which are massive detrimental to transit.
- Lindsey August 22, 2022 (7:22 pm)
  
  Once when the lower bridge was unexpectedly opened for ship traffic I got stuck on the 120 for almost four hours trying to reroute through west marginal way. The lower bridge is absolutely not a better option.
- Watertowerjim August 23, 2022 (5:57 am)
  
  Just to be clear, I think buses deserve every possible “advantage” they can give them. It’s the most efficient, responsible way to move people. That said, I’m not sure the current lane config is the best solution. It creates buses “nosing in” at the bottom resulting in brake tapping and hours-long stoppages. Maybe they get the far right lane? Maybe more exit to 1st? Not sure.

bbad August 22, 2022 (4:51 pm)

I hope our favorite motorcycle cop will come back and patrol the bus lane, reintroduce himself to the big dealers and line cutters. But then if we’re lucky, maybe we won’t have lines like we used to for all those years queuing up to get on 99 North.

BD August 22, 2022 (5:31 pm)

Yeah, I’m waiting for Officer Cool Shades too.
- Odd son August 22, 2022 (9:05 pm)
  
  I hope he’s back too and everyday not just once in awhile.
- Admyrl Byrd August 23, 2022 (9:48 pm)
  
  Haven’t seen him patrolling the Admiral Hill (up hill, of course) in quite a while.
Eldorado August 25, 2022 (7:06 am)

The cops will definitely be out there in full force when it reopens… easy way for The City to get some money back.

Nicki August 22, 2022 (5:11 pm)

Question though: What about the bus stops on Harbor Island? Were they used by workers on Harbor Island? If so, don’t they now lose bus service to/from work?

nwpolitico August 22, 2022 (5:53 pm)

I am wondering the same thing, thank you for asking.
- Chuck August 23, 2022 (12:25 pm)
  
  Buses exited the bridge at the Harbor Island exit westbound on Spokane and served the 26th SW stop, and eastbound likewise got there from Avalon.
  - Nicki August 23, 2022 (3:21 pm)
    
    Westbound that makes sense (for getting that stop; the 120 doesn’t go to 26th though) Eastbound though – the 120 doesn’t go on Avalon at all. It’s on Delridge.
OneTimeCharley August 23, 2022 (7:10 am)

My recollection from a story I read when the busses were re-routed to use the lower bridge to begin with was that previously there had been zero bus stops/zero bus routes on/across Harbor Island. I’m sure someone knows far more reliably than my thin reference/memory though.

Mj August 22, 2022 (5:43 pm)

Interestingly the WB lanes have shifted a bit north, an effort to better balance the loading on the bridge?

I suspect the uneven loading, the bridge was designed for 6 lanes, on the bridge over time, like the alignment in your car, led to added stress to the bridge that SDoT chose to monitor instead of conduct maintenance work with a stuck bridge pier when it was identified.

The reinforcement added should address the loading!

Eldorado August 25, 2022 (7:08 am)

That actually makes a lot of sense.

Just wonder August 22, 2022 (8:22 pm)

Will lower bridge back to normal and be opened to everyone after high bridge opens?!

WSB August 22, 2022 (8:26 pm)

Yes.

E Ticket ride on the C. August 22, 2022 (10:43 pm)

After the way this whole thing went down, I don’t know If I’ll ever have the same ignorant confidence I once had in this majestic bridge. I imagine every time I take the RapidRide C line across during my commute, I’ll hear the tune from musical chairs playing in my head while I hold my breath.

CJ August 23, 2022 (8:22 am)

What about the 37? Any plans to bring it back?

WSB August 23, 2022 (10:45 am)

None announced so far. But I’m asking Metro about the Harbor Island bus stop so I’ll ask.

22blades August 23, 2022 (8:22 am)

Have we beat this issue to a bloody pulp? It’s gonna open. Use it. However you want. Or not. Be happy.🙂

Ishani Ghosh August 23, 2022 (9:11 am)

if some of us continue to use the route that we are taking now, the traffic congestion on the high bridge will be lowered. I am hoping to continue to do that. It might take me less time to reach Pac Tower than the high bridge. Let’s see.

Admyrl Byrd August 23, 2022 (9:51 pm)

I’m hoping that post-pandemic traffic isn’t at the same levels and we don’t have to use WMW. We need to leave that for the commercial traffic and maybe if we’re headed toward the airport. Otherwise I’ll be glad to never see that route again.

Sorry, comment time is over.