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WSDOT: emergency fixes reopened 1st Avenue South Bridge; phased panel replacements planned before full deck rebuild
Summary
WSDOT and SDOT told the committee that inspectors found fractured steel deck panels, crews installed temporary steel plates to reopen lanes, and Phase Two will replace ten panels with a full deck replacement expected in 2027; weekend and overnight closures are planned during repairs.
WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation told the Transportation, Waterfront and Seattle Center Committee on April 2, 2026 that emergency repairs completed in March allowed the 1st Avenue South northbound span to reopen, but more work is needed and a full deck replacement is planned for 2027.
WSDOT regional administrator Brian Gillson said late-February inspections identified failures in steel grate deck panels on the northbound bridge. Crews completed Phase One emergency work that installed steel plates and welded cracked grid panels, allowing lanes to reopen with a reduced speed limit. "Emergency work this spring should allow us to safely operate the bridge at full capacity until 2027," Gillson said.
Officials described a three-phase strategy: Phase Two will remove and replace ten deck panels that were temporarily repaired in March; that work is scheduled to begin later this month pending procurement and contractor selection and is expected to take about a month once panels arrive. WSDOT said it will use weekend and weeknight closures where possible and coordinate with freight operators, first responders, Mariners and neighborhood groups to limit impacts.
WSDOT emphasized scheduling considerations tied to major events: crews aim to finish interim repairs well before the FIFA World Cup first match in the region on June 15, 2026. The agency noted it had not yet hired a contractor for the Phase Two work and would finalize schedules after procurement and mobilization.
Councilmembers thanked the presenters and stressed equity for communities adjacent to the corridor. Councilmember Kettle urged attention to regional travel patterns and neighborhood impacts, noting that closures on State Route 99 and the 1st Avenue South corridor have consequences beyond the immediate neighborhood. Chair Rob Saka said equity is an important factor and noted a tentative early-June 2026 completion target for the current phase; he promised to invite WSDOT back if timelines slip materially.
WSDOT and SDOT said they will share detour maps with media partners, freight groups and neighborhood organizations and run an intensive communications campaign before the closures. The agencies described a plan to minimize weekday impacts by prioritizing weekend and overnight work where safe and feasible.
The committee received the update and indicated it will continue oversight; no formal vote was taken on the bridge item during the meeting.
