The Spokane St Swing Bridge will be closed to drivers this weekend (October 24-26)

Summary:

• During this upcoming weekend (October 24-26), we will be replacing the center lock to proactively keep the bridge operating smoothly.
• We’ve compiled a list of travel resources for anyone traveling around the Duwamish Valley communities and to and from West Seattle while the Spokane St Swing Bridge is closed.
  

What? 

We will close the Spokane Swing Bridge (also known as the Low Bridge) to replace the center lock components that lock the swing spans together. During this time, people will not be able to drive across the bridge, but they will be able to bike/roll or walk across.  

When? 

• Between 7am on Saturday (October 24) and 4am on Monday (October 26) 

Why? 

We will be replacing the center lock of the bridge. There will be more repairs as we round out the year, so stay tuned for more updates soon.  

This bridge is a crucial link across the West Duwamish Waterway, especially for people walking, rolling, and biking. Thanks to the entire West Seattle community and Low Bridge travelers for being patient. 

How can you get around these closures? 

Here are some of your options: 

Ride the bus 

The bus provides a reliable option to get to many destinations on both sides of the Duwamish Waterway without driving. Buses travel via the high bridge and can be used by people walking, riding conventional bikes, and in wheelchairs. 

We encourage you to visit King County Metro’s trip planner page to find the latest bus route and schedule information for your trip. 

Ride the Water Taxi 

King County operates the West Seattle Water Taxi, which provides direct service from West Seattle to downtown Seattle, with full service 7 days per week through the winter, except for select holidays. Their large vessels can store up to 26 bikes at a time. 

Drive or carpool on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge) 

The high bridge remains open to drivers and offers a direct connection for many travelers to reach their destinations. There are currently no restrictions on vehicle access. This bridge is not accessible to pedestrians or people biking. Signs are posted in various locations stating this.  

Walk, bike, and roll 

As mentioned above, people walking, biking, and rolling will still be able to use the low bridge to cross the Duwamish Waterway during the closure.  

Freight and business access to Harbor Island and Terminal 5 

Truck drivers, Port workers, and other people who need to access Harbor Island and Terminal 5 are still able to do so, though they need to be aware of the detour route before making their trip. Access to Harbor Island remains available from the east via SW Spokane St, before reaching the Spokane St Swing Bridge, as shown in the map below. For those traveling to Terminal 5 from the east, please use alternate routes, such as the West Seattle high bridge. 

The map above shows different routes to enter Harbor Island and Terminal 5 during the low bridge closure.

The map above shows different routes to exit Harbor Island and Terminal 5 during the low bridge closure.

We appreciate your patience as we complete this critical work to keep the bridge reliably operating today and in the future. To learn more about the project, visit our website.

Matt Howard

Communications and Outreach Lead

South Spokane St Swing Bridge Rehabilitation Team