UPDATE: Delridge/Oregon pedestrian bridge reopens

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(Reader photo from atop the newly strengthened Delridge pedestrian overpass)

1:05 PM: Two weeks ago, SDOT confirmed to WSB that its other bridge-seismic-strengthening project in West Seattle, the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian bridge, was entering its final phase. Today, we’re hearing from multiple readers that the bridge has reopened and the work zone on the street is clearing. We’re checking with SDOT for the official status and will update when we hear back; the status report earlier this month had said they expected to “temporarily” reopen the strengthened bridge in “early 2025” with some short-term closures necessary later for finishing touches.

2:24 PM: SDOT confirms the bridge has officially reopened.

Rusty December 19, 2024 (1:10 pm)

Excited for the traffic efficiency to come back. Not exited for the A**holes to continue blowing through the bus only lane going 50 mph through red lights!

Cooper JcW December 19, 2024 (1:57 pm)

I love overpass pedestrian bridges…It must be a childhood thing, had to walk on one to and from grade school everyday. It made me seem powerful to be able to walk over cars zooming by underneath me. 😉

Ken December 19, 2024 (4:49 pm)

@ Cooper JCW, I agree! Many, many years ago, there was quite a long pedestrian bridge that started on the west side of East Marginal Way South which crossed over that street, along with highway 99 and the big railroad yard which led almost directly to the old Sears store at First & Lander. It was the coolest experience as a kid. The old stairway from the street is still there after 50+ years, but it’s all fenced off now (2499 E Marginal Wy S on Google Street View).

Jay December 19, 2024 (2:18 pm)

Hurray! Those of us on 26th Ave are rejoicing!

MaybeYourNeighbor December 19, 2024 (2:28 pm)

Anyone know why this bridge is there in the first place? It is directly next to a cross walk at a stop light. There has to be some justification for deciding to earthquake proof it rather than get rid of it. I’m legitimately curious what that justification is. Would it have been just as expensive to remove it as it was to update it? Or are there some people that rely on this bridge?

WSB December 19, 2024 (2:46 pm)

We covered all that. Here’s the announcement from two years ago.
https://westseattleblog.com/2022/12/followup-delridge-pedestrian-bridge-will-remain-get-retrofit/
Rusty December 19, 2024 (3:21 pm)

I use it. Bridge wouldn’t be built today but that crosswalk is dangerous as hell. Some jerks heading towards WSB use the Bus Only lane as their personal freeway going 60+ ignoring red lights there. Have had several instances having to dive out of the way to avoid getting hit on this crosswalk.
DC December 19, 2024 (6:07 pm)

Absolutely no reason to keep it and SDOT was going to remove it but a bunch of busy-body ‘change nothing’ West Seattleites protested and got the city to spend 4million of our tax payer $$ to keep it.
- Mike D December 21, 2024 (12:29 pm)
  
  Exactly. It was a big mistake on the part of the City Council letting the “public” via an online survey have a say in the removal or rebuilding of the pedestrian bridge. I would venture to say that the majority of those who cheered on the saving of the ped bridge never used it, and never will, and were not at all impacted by the construction. As car and truck drivers tried to avoid the construction backups on Delridge Way they flew through on our neighborhoods narrow, sidewalk-less street and proceeded to make illegal right and left turns. Sadly, thanks to a specific City Council Members personal agenda, we can now look forward to yet another round of traffic clogging construction on Delridge Way as $2 million of tax payer monies is wasted on the tearing-up of the nearly new H-Line Metro zone at Delridge Way & Holly. Imagine what that $2mil could have been used for in the Delridge neighborhoods instead of tearing up new infrastructure that annoys a handful of people.

k December 19, 2024 (3:18 pm)

Wow, that was fast! I didn’t expect this to be done until April. So excited to have this bridge open and usable again!

Look Both Ways December 19, 2024 (3:26 pm)

A shameful waste of $4M (projected, possibly higher) Move Seattle levy funds based on the nominal use of this bridge; especially after the adjoining crosswalk was fully upgraded prior to the retrofit decision.

Derp December 19, 2024 (3:49 pm)

Can they put a toll on this bridge ? Seems a little wasteful in this day. Yes I understand there are crazy drivers out there. But come on, $4+m to upgrade for a few people that use it.

K December 19, 2024 (4:06 pm)

Drivers created the need for this bridge. Let’s start the tolling there.
- Derp December 19, 2024 (6:35 pm)
  
  I hope they put a counter on the bridge to see if the 6 people that actually use it, actually use it.This bridge has been around longer than the crazy drivers that started after the city lowered the speed limits. I mean come on, as a pedestrian you have to be aware of where you are crossing and pay attention when you are crossing. I see too many people just walk out in the street looking down at their cell phones. Still a COMPLETE waste of money.
Tracey December 19, 2024 (5:11 pm)

I use it. I don’t use West Seattle bridge. Let’s toll the WSB. I also will never use Sound Transit. Yet I have to pay for it.
Citizen Joe December 19, 2024 (10:44 pm)

Let’s toll the cars. Public safety comes before drivers’ comfort. People before profits. That’s what the public funds are for.

Amy December 19, 2024 (3:59 pm)

This is great news, and opened early, woot woot!

Steve December 20, 2024 (2:25 am)

I think one estimate was for it to be done April 2025 so it’s way ahead of schedule. Christmas came early!

Look Both Ways December 20, 2024 (9:54 am)

Here’s some simple math for those still endorsing this project’s ridiculous justification. With the $4M it cost (reportedly) to retrofit this sparsely used bridge (and not even considering future maintenance cost overruns)… you could pay a crossing guard rotation Seattle’s minimum wage (round up to $21), 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, FOR 20 YEARS… and still have enough left over to pay 3 patrol cars to sit there and monitor. The fact that anyone voted for this, yet complains of high rents/taxes and/or insufficient services, is exactly why Seattle is upside down vs. other cities.

K December 20, 2024 (11:51 am)

Or you could tear down two safety curbs on Delridge!

Kyle December 20, 2024 (3:21 pm)

This was a ridiculous waste of tax money. The at-grade crossing is ADA complaint, typically quicker, and didn’t cost an extra $4M.

WeirdGuy December 20, 2024 (5:10 pm)

Wonder how many millions it cost to reinforce an ugly bridge that I never see anyone use. What’s wrong with a regular crosswalk, there’s one on the other side of the street.