TRAFFIC ALERT: Admiral Way Bridge fully open, at least for now

Thanks to Kent for the photo, and to others for the tips. At least for now, the Admiral Way Bridge is fully open. No SDOT announcement accompanied this, so we’re hesitant to assume it’s the end of deck work until we can reach them on Monday – we recall at least one previous time in the project when a change just before a weekend was only transitional, and the most-recent update on the project, from mid-July, said the bridge configuration would change several times in the ensuing “weeks.” SDOT has only been citing “summer” as a full completion date, and the season has six weeks to go. When the work began more than 13 months ago, SDOT expected it to last “seven to eight months.” They’ve said one reason for the extended timeline is an expansion of paint work.

North Admiral Cyclist August 2, 2025 (12:14 pm)

I wondered about this earlier today, coming back to North Admiral from an early morning errand. Per usual, I change lanes as I come up on the bridge, trying to guess as I come around the bend which lane is closed this time. But alas, no lane closure. I wondered when this happened!

22blades August 2, 2025 (1:30 pm)

Fairmont is still barricaded.😕

David August 2, 2025 (7:18 pm)

If you look close at the sign on Fairmont, it says it will be closed until August 28.

Eagerly waiting August 2, 2025 (2:21 pm)

Does this mean the lower road can be used?

CarDriver August 2, 2025 (3:29 pm)

Only if you jump the fence(or burrow underneath)

WS Person August 2, 2025 (7:43 pm)

What a letdown that they didn’t resurface the bridge. They even took the time to paint the railings and light posts, but not the actual function of the bridge.

Neighbor August 3, 2025 (11:22 am)

The actual function of the bridge to hold up the road deck. This work was on the structural elements of the bridge so it doesn’t collapse under the weight of traffic. There’s more to roadwork than potholes. As noted in the very story you are replying to the work may not be done. If the last step is resurfacing then wouldn’t you expect the other equipment to be removed?

Admiral-2009 August 2, 2025 (10:29 pm)

WS Person – I believe that the City has a separate contract planned to resurface the decks of the two bridges once the strengthening work on the bridges is completed.

Arch Stanton August 3, 2025 (12:43 am)

If this was a private contractor that any of us hired individually, they’d’ve been fired months ago. Poor comms, lengthy incremental no milestone work, inhibition of a main artery for a year straight. It’s pathetic. This is the richest country in the history of the world. Why is this acceptable work

North Admiral Cyclist August 3, 2025 (5:52 am)

I think that old bridge (actually two old bridges side by side) is not that easy to work on. No different than the 100 year old houses in the neighborhood I’ve fixed up over the years. I’m thankful the city invested in patching the bridge up – it’s pretty critical to West Seattle that road stays open.
Jackson K August 3, 2025 (9:31 am)

@Arch Stanton. It’s almost done. Relax.

Alki Man August 3, 2025 (8:08 am)

Arch, it’s not a country issue, it’s a SDOT issue. I agree, it’s an outrage having twice the schedule over run not to coordinate to have the deck resurfaced! Who knows what the cost over run is…This is typical SDOT. Constellation has stopped road work now. The city needs to farm out to private contractors. SDOT performance is pitiful.

Alki Man August 3, 2025 (8:08 am)

Kathy August 3, 2025 (12:35 pm)

This photo vividly displays the sad fact that there is no place for people to safely bike when commuting in and out of the Admiral district without doing huge detours. Yet we go on about making it easy for all the car traffic going in and out which is creating excess air and noise pollution and toxic runoff. On top of that, a huge percentage of car drivers on Admiral Way (both east and west side of the junction) are driving WAY over the speed limit. If they would would just stop speeding, think of the pollution that would be reduced, not to mention making it safer for everyone, walking, cycling or driving.

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