Tom Pearce, communications, 206-440-4696

Bridge will be reduced to two lanes in each direction around the clock during 10 days of work

SEATTLE - Washington State Department of Transportation crews have developed a plan to repair a damaged support beam connection below the State Route 99 Aurora bridge. The bridge will be reduced to two lanes in each direction for approximately 10 days of work beginning 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

The lane closures create room for contractor crews to stage equipment during the repairs. Temporary lane markings will shift a single lane of southbound traffic into the northbound lanes, allowing two lanes of travel in each direction over the bridge as repairs are made.

“This is complicated work that requires us to raise a portion of the bridge to reset and repair the damaged support connection,” WSDOT Engineering Manager Ed Kane said. “We want to get in and do the work as safely and efficiently as possible.”

WSDOT has coordinated closely with transportation partners at the city of Seattle and King County Metro to keep traffic moving through the area. The bridge is safe for traffic, but travelers should be aware of the new lane configuration and prepare for delays while the work takes place.

To help limit the backups, people who usually drive should consider alternatives:

Carpooling

Transit

Bicycling

Walking

The walkway on the west side of the bridge will close during repairs, but the east walkway remains open during the work.

WSDOT bridge inspectors discovered advanced deterioration of a steel support beam below the bridge during an in-depth inspection on Sunday, Oct. 27. They subsequently decided to keep the right lane closed as a precaution until a repair plan could be determined. After designing a plan, WSDOT hired Guy F. Atkinson Construction to make the emergency repairs.

Before heading out, travelers can get real-time traffic information with the WSDOT mobile app and the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.