SEATTLE — On Monday, drivers, public transit riders, and boaters will feel the impact of a 26-day construction project that will shut down the Montlake Bridge to all vehicle traffic.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 9, the Montlake Bridge will close to all vehicle traffic for a 26-day construction project.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation [WSDOT], 60,000 vehicles cross the metal-grid-covered bridge every day.
Each time a car passes, a loud noise can be heard reverberating off the metal on the road.
“The metal grid deck is just breaking apart, so, these are pieces of metal that are fracturing and breaking,” said Joseph Calabro with WSDOT. “They’re at the point now where they’re essentially falling apart.”
The bridge was constructed in 1998. The older it gets, the more repairs it needs.
“We’re seeing more and more failures, pieces of the bridge deck break, each time that happens they need to be repaired,” said Brian Nielsen with WSDOT.
In 2020, WSDOT had to send maintenance crews to perform emergency repairs on nine separate occasions. So far in 2021, they have conducted seven emergency repairs.
“Crews are basically welding patches onto the deck,” Calabro explained.
Now, after 23 years and countless repairs, the Montlake Bridge is getting a facelift.
“As the bridge ages it’s only going to get worse,” Nielsen said. “The bridge is a vital connection between the U District and the Montlake neighborhood and points beyond that, so it’s a vital time for us to replace this bridge deck.”
The project is broken down into two parts.
Phase 1, which begins at midnight, Aug. 9, includes an around-the-clock closure to all vehicle traffic.
The first phase will take 26 days and is scheduled to end at 5 a.m. on Sept. 3, KIRO 7 News Seattle reported.
During that time, crews will work to replace the grid deck and work on the span’s expansion joints.
Drivers will be diverted to other area canal crossings like I-5 and University Bridge.
“This bridge, before the pandemic, was carrying 60-thousand daily trips; those trips are going to go somewhere in the network so we do expect congestion,” said Jon Layzer with Seattle Department of Transportation [SDOT].
WSDOT said drivers can expect delays and urge drivers to consider other transit options to reduce backups.
At least one sidewalk on the Montlake Bridge will remain open through the duration of the project, so walking and cycling is recommended.
For those with a farther commute, WSDOT encourages the use of public transit and carpooling to help lessen the load of cars on the roadway.
“At any time transit remains a great option,” said John Gallagher with Sound Transit. “It’s fast, it’s affordable, it’s efficient, people can take advantage of it and avoid complications from the closure.”
While public transit is recommended, the closure will impact certain public transit routes, as well as boat traffic.
According to King County Metro, local bus routes 43 and 48, which travel north through the Montlake neighborhood before crossing the bridge, will be diverted.
Route 48 will take the alternate route that it uses during the opening of the Montlake Bridge for the start of boating season – traveling along East Boyer and Furman onto Eastlake and then to Campus Parkway.
The directions are, from Route 43 take Broadway from East John Street and travel along Broadway onto Eastlake and then Campus Parkway.
Any Metro or Sound Transit routes that typically exit State Route 520, before crossing the bridge, will be diverted as well. Those routes will go across Portage Bay and exit onto East Roanoke Street, ultimately utilizing surface streets in the University District.
For alternate service to downtown Seattle, riders on the east side can transfer to Metro routes 257 and 311 or take Sound Transit Route ST 545 at Evergreen Point Freeway Station.
Transit service advisors can be found HERE.
Boaters can also expect changes during the closure.
A single-leaf bridge opening will be available to boaters throughout the closure, WSDOT said there will be signs to indicate which side of the bridge will open.
Boats needing a full, double-leaf opening are required to give 24-hour notice to the bridge operator by calling 206-720-3048.
More information on changes to boaters can be found HERE.
The Montlake Bridge is set to reopen at 5 a.m. on Sept. 3.
According to WSDOT, the goal is to finish replacing the entire deck over the course of the 26-day closure. If the work from Phase 1 is not finished, it will continue into the time that has been allotted for Phase 2.
During the second phase, crews will repair and replace the pieces that open and close the bridge.
Phase 2 of the bridge project is slated to begin Sept. 10 and includes five weekend-long closures (listed below) to all vehicles and pedestrians.
- Sept. 10-13
- Oct. 8-11
- Oct. 22-25
- Oct. 29 - Nov. 1
- Nov. 19 – 22
WSDOT said the dates were selected with the Washington Husky football schedule in mind.
The closures will begin at 11 p.m. on Friday and end at 5 a.m. the following Monday.