TRAFFIC ALERT: Two lanes closed on northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge

If you travel on the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, you need to know about this late-night alert from WSDOT:

The right two lanes of the northbound State Route 99 First Avenue Bridge in Seattle are closed beginning Wednesday night, Feb. 18 until further notice.

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance has closed the lanes and reduced the speed on the northbound bridge to 25 MPH following a routine bridge inspection.

WSDOT bridge engineers will be on site again Thursday, Feb. 19, to continue their assessment. More details will be shared as they are available.

Clayton Gillett February 19, 2026 (2:54 am)

Thanks for the notice. It is shocking to me that after several years of bridge problems to and from West Seattle that we are back here again. We have beaten that bridge with much of the flow from West Seattle during the West Seattle bridge shutdown and we are now directing more traffic through those bridges with the extension of 99 and the new tolling. Did we not have this bridge on more complete and higher priority testing? What ever happened to good stewardship?

Lack Thereof February 19, 2026 (6:21 am)

The HOV lane is open so (hopefully) the Metro 121/2/3 express bus routes across the bridge will be less impacted. but the backups will probably stretch further south than the HOV lane extends, so not unimpacted.

CarDriver February 19, 2026 (6:50 am)

Do I hear echo’s of the high bridge saga? Hope not!!!

Curious Toad February 19, 2026 (7:27 am)

WSB- Can you provide a map that indicates the affected area(s), please?

K February 19, 2026 (9:14 am)

The closure is limited to the bridge itself, but every road that feeds into the bridge is affected. 509 is (or was) backed up for miles.

Light rail can’t get here soon enough.
Lola February 19, 2026 (10:19 am)

My son who works on the bridge said today it is down to two lanes going NB on the 1st so bridge, while they work on the other lanes. Not sure if it will switch up for the other side or not it depends on what they find in the inspection. This was not a planned shut-down of the lanes it is just when the inspectors show up to keep the bridge Maintained.