SEATTLE — KING 5 News reports the high-rise portion of the West Seattle Bridge is closed until further notice. The Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan made the announcement Monday.
According to Durkan, the West Seattle Bridge has been developing cracks over time and further deterioration was detected recently.
“There are concerns that the high-rise bridge cannot safely support vehicular traffic at this time,” Durkan said.
Spokane Street will remain open to transit and first responders only. Eastbound traffic will need to use the 1st Ave S. bridge or South Park bridge, and westbound traffic from I-5 will need to exit at the Michigan/Corson Exit to access West Seattle.
According to Durkan, the West Seattle Bridge has been developing cracks over time and further deterioration was detected recently.
“There are concerns that the high-rise bridge cannot safely support vehicular traffic at this time,” Durkan said.
Spokane Street will remain open to transit and first responders only.
Eastbound traffic will need to use the 1st Ave S. bridge or South Park bridge, and westbound traffic from I-5 will need to exit at the Michigan/Corson Exit to access West Seattle.
“After learning today that the Seattle Department of Transportation was indefinitely closing the West Seattle Bridge due to structural concerns, I directed King County Metro to immediately begin planning alternate routes on both sides of the Duwamish, and to increase the frequency of and connections to the King County Water Taxi,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.
SDOT crews will need to make a further assessment of when the bridge will be safe for driving again.
There is no timeline for repair.