TRAFFIC ALERT: Delridge Way shifts as pedestrian-bridge project moves to final phase

(WSB photo: Delridge project site, earlier this week)

As we’ve been mentioning in our daily traffic updates, we’ve had an inquiry out to SDOT about the status of the Delridge Way pedestrian-bridge seismic-strengthening project. We just received the update, and it includes word of a configuration change at the project site:

The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge is expected to reopen in early 2025. Crews will be wrapping up retrofits to the bridge’s components throughout December. Over the last year, we have made the bridge stronger by widening its foundation, adding carbon fiber wrapping, making structural reinforcements, rebuilding the ramp landings, and replacing the expansion joints.

If all goes well and the weather allows us to complete our work on schedule, we expect to be able to temporarily reopen the bridge to pedestrians in January 2025. There will still need to be short closures later in the year lasting a few days at a time to install the bridge railings.

Today (December 6), we will be shifting the travel lanes on Delridge Way SW to make room for the next phase of construction. There will continue to be two open lanes, with one lane for each direction of travel. We expect to fully reopen the road in early 2025.

Work on the project started last spring, after the city determined it would keep and strengthen the overpass rather than tearing it down.

12 Replies to "TRAFFIC ALERT: Delridge Way shifts as pedestrian-bridge project moves to final phase"

  • Seth December 6, 2024 (2:07 pm)

    The amount of people that detour through 26th avenue to go around the construction is insane to me. Especially cuz they fly down the road which is it supposed to Greenway and right next to a park. Can’t wait for this bridge project to be done

    • Kyle December 6, 2024 (8:33 pm)

      A predictable outcome thanks to the small minority who wanted to keep the sign waving overpass for nostalgia instead of the new at grade ADA complaint crossing.

  • MD December 6, 2024 (2:59 pm)

    Ah, we near the end of one of the stupidest construction projects in recent memory. 

    • CarDriver December 6, 2024 (4:19 pm)

      MD. Nobody will make you use this pedestrian crossing.

      • JJ December 6, 2024 (8:08 pm)

        Nobody needs it. There’s a crosswalk right there. What a waste of money. 

    • Frog December 6, 2024 (7:26 pm)

      Yes, world’s most expensive sign-waving platform.

    • DM December 6, 2024 (10:17 pm)

      Look MD, it’s clear you’ve never driven through here before. This is a PEDESTRIAN bridge, meant for people! How else could anybody cross a busy road? 

      • LJJ December 7, 2024 (7:44 am)

        Pedestrians are equally capable (if not more easily able) to cross the road via a crosswalk on the ground.

      • Derp December 7, 2024 (10:37 am)

        They are called crosswalks.  And they don’t cost $3.1m to retrofit either.  Pretty amazing huh

    • Dumbridge December 7, 2024 (1:22 pm)

      That’s RIGHT, DM. In fact we should be building these bridges at every intersection in West Seattle. Do you really think it’s safe for children to be crossing streets at crosswalks, just feet away from cars!!!!! What with all the robot cars and self-driving Elon Musk-mobiles out there. Insane… THINK ABOUT IT. 

  • Delridge Dan December 7, 2024 (9:25 am)

    I’m curious to know. Will they remove the no right on red sign or will it stay? 

    • Derp December 7, 2024 (10:36 am)

      It will stay,  along with the rest of them that people just blow thru and don’t even look at.  You will have to wait an additional 30 seconds for the light to change.  Omg the wait is real

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