Travelers in Seattle should brace for major delays this week as a key piece of city infrastructure undergoes emergency maintenance. Starting early Monday morning, all northbound lanes of the SR 99 First Avenue Bridge were shut down to allow crews to address structural concerns.
Details of the closure include:
- Timeline: The closure began at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9, and is scheduled to remain in effect until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
- The Work: Maintenance teams are installing steel plates designed to stabilize and strengthen the bridge’s deck. This intervention is necessary to ensure the long-term safety of the structure.
- Traffic Impact: The total closure of northbound lanes on this major arterial is expected to push significant traffic onto surface streets and I-5, leading to heavy congestion throughout the Duwamish Valley and surrounding areas.
- Next Steps: While this three-day window aims to complete the immediate stabilization work, city officials continue to monitor the aging bridge for further repair needs.
Commuters are encouraged to seek alternate routes, use public transit, or work remotely if possible until the bridge reopens Wednesday evening.
Leave a Reply