Upcoming Montlake Bridge closure to impact drivers, public transit routes, boat traffic – KIRO 7 News Seattle

SEATTLE – On Monday, drivers, public transit passengers and boaters will feel the effects of a 26-day construction project that will close the Montlake Bridge to all vehicular traffic.

Starting Monday, August 9th, the Montlake Bridge will be closed 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-lattice-covered bridge every day.

Every time a car drives by, a loud noise can be heard echoing from the metal on the road.

“The metal mesh deck is breaking apart, so these are pieces of metal that are breaking and breaking,” said WSDOT’s Joseph Calabro. “They are now at the point where they are essentially falling apart.”

The bridge was built in 1998. The older it gets, the more repairs it needs.

“We see more and more failures, parts of the bridge deck break, each time they have to be repaired,” said Brian Nielsen from WSDOT.

In 2020, WSDOT had to dispatch maintenance teams nine times to perform emergency repairs. So far in 2021 they have carried out seven emergency repairs.

“Crews basically weld 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 will only get worse,” said Nielsen. “The bridge is an important link between the underground district and the Montlake neighborhood and points beyond, so it is an important time for us to replace this bridge deck.”

The project is divided into two parts.

Phase 1, which begins at midnight on August 9, includes a 24/7 closure for all vehicle traffic.

The first phase will last 26 days and is slated to end at 5 a.m. on September 3, KIRO 7 News Seattle reported.

During this time, the crews will work to replace the mesh deck and work on the expansion joints of the span.

Drivers will be diverted to other canal crossings such as I-5 and the University Bridge.

“This bridge made 60,000 daily journeys before the pandemic; These trips will be somewhere on the network, so we expect traffic jams, ”said Jon Layzer of the Seattle Department of Transportation [SDOT].

According to WSDOT, drivers can expect delays and prompt drivers to consider other transit options to reduce backups.

At least one walkway on Montlake Bridge will remain open during the project period, so walking and cycling is recommended.

For those who keep commuting, WSDOT encourages the use of public transportation and car pooling to reduce the load on cars on the road.

“Transit is always a good option,” says John Gallagher of Sound Transit. “It’s fast, it’s affordable, it’s efficient, people can use it and avoid complications from the closure.”

Although public transport is recommended, the closure will affect certain local public transport lines as well as shipping.

According to King County Metro, local bus routes 43 and 48, which travel north through the Montlake neighborhood before crossing the bridge, will be rerouted.

Route 48 will take the alternate route it uses during the opening of the Montlake Bridge at the start of the boating season – via East Boyer and Furman to Eastlake and then to Campus Parkway.

Directions are as follows: From Route 43, take Broadway from East John Street and continue along Broadway onto Eastlake and then onto Campus Parkway.

Any Metro or Sound Transit routes that would normally leave State Route 520 before crossing the bridge will also be rerouted. These routes pass through Portage Bay and flow into East Roanoke Street, ultimately using the streets in the University District.

For alternative connections to downtown Seattle, drivers can change to the 257 and 311 subway lines on the east side, or take Sound Transit Route ST 545 at Evergreen Point Freeway Station.

You can find the traffic advisors HERE.

Boaters can also expect changes during the closure.

A single-wing bridge opening will be available to boaters during the closure, WSDOT said there will be signs indicating which side of the bridge will be opened.

Boats that require a full, double-leaf opening must give the bridge operator 24 hours notice by calling 206-720-3048.

More information on changes for boaters can be found HERE.

The Montlake Bridge is scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. on September 3rd.

According to WSDOT, the goal is to complete the entire deck replacement over the course of the 26-day closure. If the work from phase 1 is not completed, it will continue in the time allotted for phase 2.

In the second phase, the crews repair and replace the parts that open and close the bridge.

Phase 2 of the bridge project is scheduled to begin on September 10th and includes five weekend closures (see below) for all vehicles and pedestrians.

• 10-13 September
• Oct. 8-11
• October 22nd to 25th
• Oct 29 – Nov 1
• November 19-22

WSDOT said the dates were selected with the Washington Husky football plan in mind.

The blocking begins on Friday at 11 p.m. and ends on the following Monday at 5 a.m.

© 2021 Cox Media Group