West Seattle Bridge and Spokane Viaduct

[Bruce]

A view of the cracks and carbon wrapping on part of the bridge, shot yesterday from the lower bridge:

[kkt]

Nice photo.  I think I'll wait a few months after it opens before driving it...

[Bruce]

New cost-benefit analysis is out: https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2020/10/20/weve-completed-a-cost-benefit-analysis-to-support-and-inform-the-repair-or-replacement-paths-forward-for-the-west-seattle-high-rise-bridge/

The immersed tube did not make the cut.

[jakeroot]

Well, it made the cut. The only one that didn't appears to be a partial super-structure replacement.

But yes, it performed poorly and was best in none of the categories, so proceeding with that option would be exceedingly unlikely.

Some of the concepts (full replacement and the upcoming (done deal?) rapid replacement) look quite nice, relative to the current WSB which is basically just an elevated superstructure with nothing interesting happening.

[compdude787]

Just uploaded a video to YouTube of me driving over the West Seattle Bridge in May 2019, just ten months before its closure. Enjoy!

[jakeroot]

^^
Thanks for uploading!

Not saying you need to post it, but you wouldn't happen to have kept the original footage by chance? Just in the future, if we want to slow things down and maybe take a screenshot or something.

[compdude787]

^^
Thanks for uploading!

Not saying you need to post it, but you wouldn't happen to have kept the original footage by chance? Just in the future, if we want to slow things down and maybe take a screenshot or something.

You're welcome.

Oh yes, I still have the original footage.

[Plutonic Panda]

It looks like this bridge won't be replaced but rather repaired with an extended life span of 30-40 years:

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said a repaired bridge could reopen to traffic by "mid-2022."  Transportation officials declined to give a more specific timeline.

Read more here: https://www.kuow.org/stories/west-seattle-bridge-to-be-repaired-not-replaced

[Bruce]

First month of fines for the lower bridge yielded 5,300 tickets

https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-police-tickets-over-5000-vehicles-crossing-lower-spokane-street-bridge-this-month

[Plutonic Panda]

Absolutely ridiculous. Open it up to regularly vehicles. Gotta find a way to make up for that shortfall I guess.

[kkt]

Perhaps it'll be enough to pay for retrofitting the high level bridge.

[jakeroot]

Absolutely ridiculous. Open it up to regularly vehicles. Gotta find a way to make up for that shortfall I guess.

The detour adds a good 15 minutes, but the traffic delays from squeezing all those cars over the lower bridge may very well exceed that detour. It's better to reserve the capacity of the lower bridge for the most important vehicles, like emergency vehicles, trucks, and buses.

I also think the First Ave South Bridge opens a bit less.

[Bruce]

Absolutely ridiculous. Open it up to regularly vehicles. Gotta find a way to make up for that shortfall I guess.

The lower bridge is only one lane per direction and is not well-suited to handling normal traffic. Keeping buses and freight moving is far more important, and there are alternatives that only take 20 minutes at worst (from what I've experienced in my dozens of trips to and from the peninsula since July).

[Plutonic Panda]

Update to the repair project:

The final phase of repairs to the Seattle's busiest bridge — closed for over a year after rapidly growing cracks were found — is set to begin this year.

The Seattle Department of Transportation has chosen Kraemer North America for the estimated $48 million West Seattle Bridge project, which is expected to be completed in mid-2022.

- https://www.equipmentworld.com/better-roads/article/15065665/seattles-busiest-bridge-repairs-to-begin-this-year

[Plutonic Panda]

Update:

The winning contractor to construct final repairs for the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge and Spokane Street Swing Bridge will be Kraemer North America.

Kraemer had the best-scoring proposal based on technical merit, total price and interview, according to documents.

The high rise bridge has been closed since March 2020 and an extended process was undertaken to determine whether to repair or replace the damaged 36-year-old structure.

- https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/west-seattle-bridge-to-be-reconstructed-by-kraemer-na/53000

INFRA grant awarded:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/feds-award-11-2-million-for-west-seattle-bridge-repairs/%3Famp%3D1

[Bruce]

The final phase of repairs have begun and is expected to be complete in July.

SDOT and Kraemer North America are adding 46 miles of steel cables within the girders on all three spans and add permanent carbon-fiber wrapping. The fix is expected to make the bridge safe for another 30 years.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/final-phase-of-repair-work-begins-for-west-seattle-bridge/

[Bruce]

The ongoing concrete workers strike has the project schedules for a lot of regional projects now in doubt, but the West Seattle Bridge is being singled out because it's so close to reopening. The original estimate was late June for substantial completion and July for reopening to traffic.

https://westseattleblog.com/2022/02/west-seattle-bridge-city-says-concrete-strike-may-push-back-reopening-estimate/

[Bruce]

The week of September 12 is now the earliest projected reopening date for the high bridge, as long as things go according to plan.

https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2022/06/09/west-seattle-bridge-program-update-schedule/

[compdude787]

It will sure be good to have that bridge back open again.

[stevashe]

Construction crews have completed work on the steel cable reinforcement, so work is progressing to get the bridge back open. Looks like it is still expected to open around September 12th.

Remaining work includes finishing epoxy injections to fill cracks, finishing the carbon fiber wrapping, curing time, and demobilization of construction equipment and the temporary work platforms.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/west-seattle-bridge-reopening-post-tensioning-steel-cables-milestone/281-070e1d77-2333-4887-bb9f-c0adb9d5a9ee

[Bruce]

SDOT announces that September 18 is their reopening date for the West Seattle Bridge.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/city-sets-opening-date-for-west-seattle-bridge/

[Bruce]

The high-level bridge has reopened a few hours early and all restrictions have been removed from the low-level bridge.

https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2022/09/17/west-seattle-bridge-reopen/

[stevashe]

The high-level bridge has reopened a few hours early and all restrictions have been removed from the low-level bridge.

https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2022/09/17/west-seattle-bridge-reopen/

Indeed it has! I drove across it westbound a couple hours ago and got a quick and dirty video:

Looks like there's all new signs and barriers and part of the west approach was repaved during the closure.
Unfortunately this means that the old button copy signs are no longer up (though I happen to know that SDOT was already planning to replace those in early 2020 before the closure).

[jakeroot]

I know the Spokane Street Viaduct uses those WSDOT-style sign gantries. Is that also an SDOT standard these days?

[Bruce]

The lower (swing) bridge closed four days ago during the ice storm and won't be reopening for another 2 weeks due to repairs.

https://westseattleblog.com/2022/12/followup-west-seattle-low-bridge-to-remain-closed-at-least-two-more-weeks/