West Seattle High-Rise Bridge clears major hurdle on road to repair

The West Seattle Bridge. (Feliks Banel, KIRO radio)

The Seattle Department of Transportation has contracted construction company Kraemer North America to complete the final phase of repairs on the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge.

City is spending $ 175 million on repairs on West Seattle Bridge

This selection of a contractor was the latest in a series of milestones in an effort to bring the bridge back into operation on schedule in mid-2022.

The West Seattle High-Rise Bridge closed in March 2020 after rapidly growing cracks were found in several places. SDOT started stabilizing the bridge. The emergency measures were completed in late 2020 and have prevented the cracks from getting bigger, but additional work is needed to further strengthen the bridge and support the weight and strain of daily traffic.

SDOT reports that they have received qualifications from six companies that have been reduced to a shortlist of three teams invited for interviews.

“Kraemer was selected based on its qualifications, experience, price proposals and track record, all of which indicate this company can complete the final phase of repairs and reopen the bridge on schedule,” SDOT said in a press release. “Next, SDOT will work with Kraemer to develop a scope of work before construction so that they can participate in the further development of the renovation planning immediately.”

One year after the closure of West Seattle Bridge, there is “a light at the end of the bridge”

Kraemer, headquartered in Wisconsin, has worked on transportation, rail, and shipping projects in the United States. In Seattle, they worked on the Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge and emergency bridge stabilization for the West Seattle Bridge.

“The past year was full of unique challenges for our residents and companies. We are in the middle of this complex project and the end cannot come soon enough for everyone who is overwhelmed by the emergency closure. Our new and growing construction team is working urgently to reopen the bridge safely, ”said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

The decision to repair the bridge rather than replace it was ultimately made by Mayor Durkan. She previously said she believes repair is the fastest, best way to restore the lifeline to West Seattle.