WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project just went out to bid

New on the city’s bidding website: The project to resurface the eastbound lanes of the West Seattle Bridge’s eastern half, formally known as the Spokane Street Viaduct, has just gone out to bid.

(Framegrab from SDOT camera. Eastbound SSV at left, westbound at right)

Bidding opened this morning. SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells WSB, “This project will include repaving the eastbound lanes, as well as drainage improvements and bridge deck repair on the westbound lanes.” The city got a $5 million federal grant two years ago to help cover the cost. The (corrected) eastbound (south) side of the Spokane Street Viaduct is the older side, built in the ’40s; the westbound (north) side was built in the late ’00s/early ’10s. It was closed several times for repair work during the 2 1/2-year-long full closure of the rest of the West Seattle Bridge; pothole problems have persisted on both sides, and as SDOT described it in 2022, “The existing concrete deck overlay exhibits significant signs of ‘alligator skin’ cracking and damage.” As part of preparation for this project, a “deck scan” was done in 2021. When will the SSV work start and how long will it last? TBD, says Bergerson: “Once a contractor is selected, we will work with them to determine the exact construction timeline.” It is expected to be complete by the end of the year, though, he added. Bidding is open for three weeks, so a contractor won’t be chosen for more than a month.

Tom March 20, 2024 (12:50 pm)

They couldn’t have done that while the bridge was closed?

R2 March 20, 2024 (3:55 pm)

I’ve been wondering the same thing every time I’ve crossed the bridge since it reopened!

Always Hopeful March 20, 2024 (1:03 pm)

Could this include resurfacing the on-ramp to NB Interstate 5? (I’ve been asking for this area to be resurfaced since 2020).

Christopher B. March 20, 2024 (3:52 pm)

That area seems to be pretty smooth to me. What I’d love is some kind of redesign (or enforcement) to curtail the shameless line cutters.
- Lola March 20, 2024 (4:17 pm)
  
  Christopher B, the ones that I cannot believe are the one who cruise down in the BUS LANE like they think they have their own lane all to them-shelves. Or the ones who get over Eastbound just past the 1st ave exit and ride in the that lane then switch over into the left lane right at the end. I am taking that 4th Ave Exit and fear I may be hit by one of these idiots at some point. Stay safe out there.
- Denden March 20, 2024 (6:18 pm)
  
  It’s smooth because it is wornout concrete. Look closely the next time and the re-bar is showing. The re-bar should be covered by at the least 1 1/2″ of concrete. Sadly it is not.

Christopher B March 20, 2024 (1:24 pm)

“The eastern side of the Spokane Street Viaduct is the older side, built in the ’40s; the western side was built in the late ’00s/early ’10s. “Do you mean the eastbound and westbound sides? Those two lanes are oriented to the north and south of each other, no?

WSB March 20, 2024 (1:34 pm)

Yes, I meant to say eastbound and westbound. Fixing.

SeaJan March 20, 2024 (4:16 pm)

Any idea if it will be concrete or asphalt in the bidding?

WSB March 20, 2024 (7:49 pm)

According to the bidding website, a “new polyester concrete overlay.”

AMD March 20, 2024 (4:40 pm)

You can double my property taxes if that means getting this fixed by the end of the year. Please and thank you.

Jay March 20, 2024 (4:59 pm)

I see some confusion in the comments here. 1: this wasn’t done when the bridge was closed because it wasn’t in the contract.2: this is not on the high bridge but on the viaduct which wasn’t closed. I personally think the entire viaduct should have been resurfaced at a minimum when the Alaskan Way Viaduct was torn down, but at least they are looking at it finally.

WSCurmudgeon March 20, 2024 (11:24 pm)

Groucho and Chico Marx explain:

Why a duck?

D-Mom March 21, 2024 (7:40 am)

Oy! It definitely needs to be done, but stating the obvious, this is going to suck as now so many people are back full or part time in office. Remember when the bridge was closed, many drivers were working from home.

Matty March 21, 2024 (9:30 am)

How come we can’t have a direct exit to 99 South off this too?

Mickymse March 21, 2024 (10:41 am)

Because the Port of Seattle didn’t want to pay for something that didn’t benefit their truck movement. I lobbied hard for this when they were building the train track overpass you see just off to the side as you go eastbound from the West Seattle Bridge. Suggested it wouldn’t need much to make the connection right there while they were doing the work.

bill March 21, 2024 (7:58 pm)

Does the bid solicitation mention the rain? I mean really, the roadway we have now must have been designed by a firm in the desert southwest unfamiliar with drainage.

Sorry, comment time is over.