LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: Council briefing set

Tomorrow marks two weeks since the West Seattle low bridge closed to street/path traffic. Two notes tonight:

(SDOT photo)

CYLINDER TROUBLESHOOTING: The leaky turn cylinder removed from the bridge last Sunday is undergoing diagnostic work at an offsite shop. SDOT tweeted photos today including the one above, saying, “Spotted already: a failed main seal!” While the cylinder is being repaired, SDOT hopes to be able to open and close the bridge without it – which, as we’ve reported, will take longer – and continued testing along those lines today.

BRIEFING PLANNED: The City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee has scheduled a briefing on the low-bridge situation for its meeting next Tuesday, 9:30 am. You can go to City Hall (600 4th downtown) or watch via Seattle Channel; the meeting also has a public-comment period – see the agenda for more on that.

Eldorado January 12, 2023 (9:09 pm)

FIX THE OTHER BRIDGE! We are not doing this again! FIX IT!!!!!!!!!

WS Res January 13, 2023 (10:02 am)

Try taking a few slow breaths.

Ferns January 13, 2023 (12:09 am)

The replacement WS bridge needs prepped. That closure when it happens will probably be 6 years and be unaffordable with all the funding regulations in place. Wish old mayor had done the emergency replace option already designed. Now, WS will get to go through even more years of hellish commute as extreme weather and temps age the materials in unexpected ways. For this bridge, I wonder if it might be wiser NOT to operate the hydraulics on only 1 cylinder to spare it what could be unreasonable wear and tear? Not having both working on one side could lead to Premature aging or unforeseen damage with only 1 cylinder. Maybe just leave it open to boats and wait for the full fix???

my two cents January 13, 2023 (11:37 am)

your engineering qualifications and certifications? bridges are complex systems and any “extra” functionality such as operating on one cylinder would be a short term, or stop gap solution. The bridge cannot realistically be left open with the impacts to the port activity.
Wseattleite January 13, 2023 (12:39 pm)

Someone who is worried about extreme weather and temps aging material is giving operational engineering advice? Stick to the hysteria and stay out of reality please.