Commuters in Seattle are facing significant travel hurdles this week as all northbound lanes of the First Avenue South Bridge (SR 99) have been closed for urgent maintenance.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) initiated the full northbound closure at 5 a.m. on Monday, March 9. The bridge is expected to remain closed to vehicle traffic until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11. The emergency work follows a February inspection that revealed several cracks in the bridge’s steel deck grates, posing a safety risk.
What to know for the week ahead:
- Emergency Phase 1: During this three-day window, crews are welding reinforcements and installing temporary steel plates to stabilize the structure. This will allow all lanes to eventually reopen, though at a significantly reduced speed.
- Speed Limit Changes: Once the bridge reopens on Wednesday night, a temporary speed limit of 25 mph will be enforced across all northbound lanes to minimize stress on the aging deck.
- Detour Routes: Drivers are being diverted to alternate crossings, including the South Park Bridge and 14th Avenue South. Officials recommend using I-5 or I-405 where possible, though these routes are also seeing increased congestion due to the spillover traffic.
- Future Impact: This is only the first part of a multi-stage plan. A second round of closures is expected in mid-to-late April to replace nine failing panels before the surge of visitors for the 2026 World Cup in June. A complete replacement of the northbound deck is currently slated for 2027.
While the bridge is closed to cars, it remains open for marine traffic, and vessel openings will proceed as scheduled. Travelers are urged to plan for extra commute time and check real-time traffic maps before heading out.
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