FOLLOWUP: Here’s what went wrong with NB 1st Avenue South Bridge

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(Tuesday morning WSDOT camera image of stuck-open NB 1st Avenue S. Bridge)

And now we have followup information on Wednesday morning’s two-hour-plus northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge stuck-open problem. WSDOT spokesperson RB McKeon tells us it was electrical trouble, “fixed after an electrical engineer with advance knowledge of the electrical systems of the bridge arrived on site and was able to troubleshoot and repair the issue.” So that’s separate from the cracking that led to the need for repairs last month. Speaking of which, we also asked if the date is set yet for Phase 2 of those repairs – since it wasn’t when we published this report last week following a briefing given to a City Council committee. McKeon’s reply: “We do not yet have a start date for the Phase 2 repairs, but we are still tracking sometime at the end of April/beginning of May.”

sam-c April 9, 2026 (8:19 pm)

In reading the linked story and looking at the slide shared in that story. Is it correct to assume that the only full closures of NB 99 on the 1st Ave bridge will be overnight or weekends (and not during weekdays)? Thanks for the clarification. excerpt from article: “For the repairs, they expect to use a combination of weekend and weeknight full closures. ” Bullet point on the slide: “All lanes of northbound SR 99 will close across First Avenue South bridge” following bullet points: “Construction closure/timeline could include: -Weekend full closures -weeknight full closures”

WSB April 9, 2026 (9:55 pm)

That’s what WSDOT said at the briefing, so that seems to be at least the current plan.

Wildcats April 10, 2026 (10:18 am)

WSDOT has been more communicative about this project since Rob Saka called them before the Transportation Committee. Solid leadership from our local elected official!

WSB April 10, 2026 (11:45 am)

This was a result of me asking WSDOT two days in a row for followup information; I’m glad CM Saka had a briefing recently but he had nothing to do with this followup. Thanks!
- IDC9 April 11, 2026 (11:35 am)
  
  The fact that they are being more communicative is something to celebrate. Kudos to WSB and Saka for making it happen!
dwg April 10, 2026 (12:07 pm)

Lol nice try, Mr. Saka.

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