From the “in case you wondered too” file: Dave emailed to ask what happened to the on-street bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon, by Dumplings of Fury and its north neighbors. He used it to park on Sunday, April 27, but found the rack missing this past Sunday. Our photo from yesterday shows the bicycle marking on the street but the rack (and other infrastructure) missing; here’s what it looked like in a 2023 Google Street View image:

First we asked the West Seattle Junction Association if they were aware of the removal. They weren’t. So we then asked SDOT, which is accountable for installing and maintaining these racks; spokesperson Mariam Ali checked around and then replied to us Tuesday, “Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We didn’t remove the bike rack at the northwest corner of SW Oregon and California SW, and we’re not sure what happened to it. Our crews will install a replacement.”

However, when we took a closer look at the scene Wednesday before writing the story, we thought there had to be more to it – couldn’t have been a metal theft, as the wheel stops and bollard were gone too. So we asked SDOT about it again, wondering if they had cross-referenced all the permit filings in the area, etc. That turned out to be the key, said spokesperson Ali:

After receiving your follow-up question, I connected with another team we hadn’t checked with earlier and confirmed that the bike rack was removed as part of the construction project at 4448 California Ave SW to accommodate traffic rerouting in their traffic control plan. Once construction is complete and they’ve completed any restoration work, they’ll reinstall the bike rack at the same location.

Concurrent with that update from SDOT, WSJA told us they’d just received the same explanation. So bottom line: The bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon was removed as part of the mixed-use project on the northeast corner (background is in our coverage of its groundbreaking), but will be reinstalled when construction is complete (expected next year).

(SDOT photo)

SDOT is still saying the Admiral Way Bridge seismic-strengthening work will continue into summer. But in the meantime, in case you’re wondering what crews are doing now, they offered an update today:

-Painting steel bridge components.
-Fixing sections of the bridge with cracked or broken concrete.
-Repairing corrosion damage on support structures under the bridge.
-Removing scaffolding on the north side of the bridge, and around support columns.

In the coming weeks, crews will remove leftover concrete debris from recent repairs and place large rocks at the base of the bridge and along nearby slopes for added protection. They’ll also install drainage near the support columns to help manage rainwater.

SDOT says the work zone – determining which lanes are closed – could change “from time to time” on the bridge deck, but Fairmount beneath the bridge will remain fully closed until the project is complete. They say the timeline for completion stretched out because they decided to fully paint the bridge (which technically is two bridges).

Heads-up to expect more bicyclists on West Seattle and White Center streets tomorrow (Sunday, April 13) – Cascade Bicycle Club‘s annual Ride for Major Taylor starts on the White Center Bicycle Playground 7 am-8:30 am and will take hundreds of riders on one of two courses – either circumnavigating our peninsula via its waterfront streets (with an Alki rest stop), or (updated) a White Center/Tacoma/Vashon/West Seattle route. You can see the route maps (26 miles or 62 miles) by going here. If you’re not registered, unfortunately, it’s too late – no same-day signups, according to Cascade, which explains that the ride honors “the legacy of Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor, the Black World Cycling Champion … as a fundraiser for Cascade Bicycle Club’s education and advocacy programs, including funding for snacks at after-school Major Taylor Project Clubs as well as support for Major Taylor Project students’ participation in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.”

(REAL ID reminder that arrived with a car-tab-renewal notice)

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

With just a month left, the scramble is on for appointments to get enhanced driver licenses and other IDs that meet REAL ID requirements. Starting May 7, you’ll need identification that meets those federal standards if you want to board a domestic commercial flight or visit some federal facilities. US Passports will be accepted, as will Washington State-issued Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced IDs, as well as Tribal IDs and other documents (see the list here), but a regular driver’s license or state ID will no longer be enough.

We checked around, and found that West Seattle’s semi-new driver-licensing location at 2420 SW Dakota is booked up for the next two months worth of appointments for enhanced documents. A few other locations in the metro area have some earlier appointment dates, but still well after the deadline. The enhanced cards take a couple of weeks to process after the appointment, in any case. There are some occasional cancelled appointments that become available day-of, so if you can’t wait until summer for your updated documents, checking the site regularly may yield an earlier appointment. The Department of Licensing website allows you to check by location on availability, but does not show the West Seattle office on its default map. You have to put in your zip code to see available appointments there: dol.wa.gov/id-cards/real-id

REAL ID’s goal is to make sure all states use the same kinds of standards to confirm identity and citizenship before issuing ID cards, in much the way US passport standards work. The Act, which was a Congressional response to security concerns after 9/11, was originally planned to take effect in 2008, but that deadline has been pushed back time and again, for a total of 20 years. The most recent delays in 2021 and 2023 were blamed in part on state licensing backlogs created by the pandemic. The Transportation Security Administration is sticking with the deadline this time, but is planning a “phased enforcement approach,” giving it some flexibility if passengers arrive at the airport with a regular ID instead of an enhanced one. Just how they will handle those situations when they happen is not yet clear, but they do expect it to be an issue because so many Americans have yet to upgrade their identification to meet the standards. While US passports are another option, only a little more than half of Americans — 170 million people — have those.

Despite the standardization the act is aiming for, some states, including Washington, are putting their own mark on the IDs–literally. To denote a compliant ID, the majority of states have added a star in the upper right corner of their IDs, but some are black, others gold, and California has their star on a grizzly bear. Washington state has eschewed the star in favor of an American flag that overlaps the photo on the ID.

(SDOT photo)

SDOT has a short update on the Admiral Way Bridge seismic-strengthening project:

Here’s What Crews Are Working On:

-Concrete repairs on damaged sections of the bridge.
-Wrapping parts of the bridge in carbon fiber to make it stronger.
-Painting piers and setting up scaffolding to prepare for retrofits under the deck.

Traffic Reminders

Admiral Way SW (on top of the bridge):
-Both sidewalks are open for people walking, biking, and using mobility devices.
-The work zone will change from time to time over the next several months, but we’re keeping at least one lane of Admiral Way SW open in each direction.

Fairmount Ave SW Closure Reminder (below the bridge):
-Fairmount Ave SW under the bridge is closed to all travelers during construction. This closure keeps everyone safe while work happens on the bridge above, and helps our crews work efficiently.

We expect to finish construction in summer 2025. The schedule could change due to weather, crew availability, or materials — we’ll keep you posted!

As reported in this previous update, the painting is a big part of why SDOT says the completion date is later than originally projected.

Back on Monday, we reported on plans to repave SW Barton between Roxhill Park and Westwood Village, 26th SW to 29th SW, because of damage done by buses. SDOT told us they planned to distribute a flyer soon to nearby homes and businesses. Today we’ve received the flyer, and if you’re in the area, SDOT says, it should be in your mail. It doesn’t appear to include any new info of note; it does say that there’ll be a temporary bus-layover spot while the work is under way this fall, and that they’ll “let you know where soon.” See the flyer here.

Metro has just announced the changes coming with its next semi-annual “service change” on March 29. For West Seattle, Route 56 and RapidRide C Line lose trips, while RapidRide H Line gains trips. Here are the route-by-route links and explanations:

Route 56 (map/schedule here)
This route will see a reduction in trips that are currently funded by the Seattle Transit Measure. This route will have 1 fewer trip each weekday during the morning commute hours. These service hours will be re-invested in other routes to better meet the City’s policy goals and equity commitments.

RapidRide C Line (map/schedule here)
This route will have fewer trips during afternoon commute hours. This includes a reduction in trips that were funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure. Buses will still come about every 10 minutes or more frequently on this route. This change is to support Seattle’s equity goals, better align with transit need and demand, and be consistent with Metro’s RapidRide policies.

RapidRide H Line (map/schedule here)
5 trips will be added on weekdays and 3 trips will be added on Saturday and Sunday. These additional trips are funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure.

The full systemwide list of changes is here.

P.S. There’s no mention again this service change of some unresolved West Seattle issues – two suspended routes (37 and 55) and proposed stop changes for Route 125. We are checking with Metro.

Today was going to be the deadline for applying to be on the advisory committee overseeing the Transportation Levy approved by voters in November. The city is looking for more applicants and has extended the deadline to Monday morning. Here’s the announcement:

We are recruiting members for the new Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Committee (LOC). Apply by 8 am on Monday, March 3, 2025!

Apply here.

Serving on the LOC is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of Seattle’s transportation system and to ensure transparency and accountability as SDOT builds and delivers on levy commitments. As a committee member, you’ll help keep Seattle moving by overseeing how levy funds are spent. Your role is to monitor budgets, track progress on projects, and make sure the funds are used as promised to Seattle voters. You’ll work with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and SDOT staff to ensure transparency and accountability. Join us in being a steward of this public investment and help make a real difference in Seattle’s transportation future.

Read more about it on this SDOT website. (Previous transportation levies have had committees like this too.)

(SDOT photos)

With unplanned closures yesterday and today, the West Seattle low bridge’s status is in the spotlight again. We asked SDOT for updates – here are two we’ve just received:

Recent unplanned bridge closures

The recent unplanned closures of the Spokane St Swing Bridge have been due to a damaged sensor in the barrier gate on the western side of the bridge as well as unrelated electrical damage from the recent windstorms.

The motion sensor is one of the safeguards used to verify that the barrier gate is correctly locked into place so that the bridge can be safely opened to vehicles. The sensor appears to have worn out earlier this month leading to multiple short-term disruptions to bridge operations. It took us some time to diagnose the root cause of the problem, but this morning technicians were able to confirm the location of the damaged sensor and replace it.

Meanwhile, there have also been unplanned closures resulting from the storm this past weekend. During the storm, power surges and water seeping into some of the enclosures caused short circuits in the terminal blocks, wiring, and connectors. Maintenance staff have been troubleshooting and repairing this damage as it comes to light, but it is still possible that there could be additional damage which we have not discovered yet.

Update on lift cylinder repairs

Earlier this month, SDOT crews installed a newly repaired hydraulic lift cylinder inside the east pier of the Spokane St Swing Bridge. The work was completed over weekend of February 8-10, and did not require any bridge closures for land travel.

The bridge relies on two lift cylinders (one on each side of the Duwamish Waterway). There is also a third spare lift cylinder which has been used when one of the others is being repaired. SDOT has now finished repairing both of the active lift cylinders.

The pair of 30,000 pound hydraulic lift cylinders are the largest mechanical part in the complex system used to lift and turn the 14-million-pound bridge span so it can be opened for passing ships. Each of the large lift cylinders is connected to a pair of smaller turn cylinders which rotate the bridge (four turn cylinders total).

We are still working on the repairs to the last of these smaller hydraulic turn cylinders which was removed in October 2024. We expect to reinstall this turn cylinder and continue to repair and upgrade other cylinders and electrical components throughout this year.

SDOT also completed a bridge strengthening project in 2022, earthquake safety project in 2024, and upgrades to the bridge control and communications system in 2024. This work was made possible thanks to local funding sources including the 2015 Levy to Move Seattle.

(WSB photos, this afternoon)

3:49 PM: The Admiral Way Bridge earthquake-strengthening project is still months away from completion. We’d been pursuing an update from SDOT after noticing the project webpage said they expected to wrap up within weeks; SDOT now says that was a mistake (and has corrected the project page) – their estimate for completion remains “summer,” as we’ve previously reported. Here’s what’s ahead:

Admiral Way SW (on top of the bridge)
The work zone will change periodically over the next several months, but our construction plan is to leave at least one lane of Admiral Way SW on the bridge open in each direction. Both sidewalks will also remain open throughout construction.

Fairmount Ave SW Closure (below the bridge)
Fairmount Ave SW will remain closed to all travelers throughout construction. This closure keeps everyone safe while work happens on the bridge above, and helps our crews work efficiently.

When the project started in early July of last year, the completion estimate was spring.

ADDED 7:52 PM: We asked SDOT for some info on what’s been done so far. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson‘s reply also included their explanation why this is expected to take months longer than first projected:

The project is more than halfway complete. The following project elements are currently in progress:

-Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge
-Slope stabilization
-Painting the steel structure
-Repairing cracks and damaged concrete
-Replacing the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge  

(Regarding the) previous estimate that the project would be completed in the spring. After the June 2024 factsheet was written, the project scope was expanded to include full painting of the steel structure. This extended the anticipated construction completion into the summer.