Prepping to Swap Parts.
Bicycle commuter shuttle continues at bridge approaches, during peak hours.
Preparation work is underway to remove damaged hydraulic parts from the W Seattle lower bridge, which was shut down last night due to a small hydraulic fluid leak. To identify the cause of the leak of about 1 gallon of hydraulic fluid, inspectors must look closely at the piston, ring, and bearings.
“Right now, we’re preparing to swap out the damaged assembly with a spare assembly we must transport from storage. The parts we need to remove are behind complex electrical conduits, so, to a degree, crews have to take the bridge apart to get to and successfully replace the hydraulics.” – SDOT Roadway Structures Manager, Matthew Donahue
Donahue estimates a two-day process for SDOT crews to disassemble the large electrical cables blocking access to the hydraulic system and pull out the heavy steel parts of the swing bridge on a specially ordered emergency response vehicle.
What you can expect:
WHAT:
Spokane St Swing Bridge, a.k.a. W Seattle Low-Level Bridge over the Duwamish River is out of commission while under repair.
Shuttle service for bike commuters continues, up to 15 passengers each trip.
WHEN:
Shuttle service is available 6 – 10 AM and 3 – 7 PM; arriving at each side every ~20 minutes.
Repair work is expected to take at least a week.
WHERE:
Vehicles: Detour routes are marked at the following locations:
- Chelan Ave SW
- 1st Ave S
- E Marginal
- Harbor
Bike Riders: Shuttle service is available at bridge approaches in Seattle and W Seattle for pickup and dropoff.
- For those biking around the Duwamish, see the bike detour map.
Updates made available as confirmed.
Thank you for your patience!