Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is undertaking a significant rehabilitation project for the Salmon Bone Bridge, also known as the Adams Fish Bridge, an iconic structure integral to the Longfellow Creek Habitat Improvement Project in West Seattle. The project aims to improve pedestrian safety and access, especially for the sight-impaired, while significantly reducing future maintenance needs.

Designed by renowned Seattle-based artist Lorna Jordan, the Salmon Bone Bridge was originally installed in 1999. Its unique design was conceived to invoke the skeletal structure of a fish. The original bridge deck was crafted from recycled cedar timbers arranged in a herringbone pattern. Jordan also designed the nearby Dragonfly Garden and Pavilion, located on Longfellow Creek in West Seattle, near the bridge. The bridge is specifically situated in the greenspace between SW Nevada St/SW Yancy St and 28th Ave SW/26th Ave SW.

The rehabilitation efforts have been phased to ensure comprehensive improvements:

• Deck Replacement (Completed Summer 2024): SPU replaced the original deteriorated bridge deck with Corten steel in the summer of 2024. This new decking has since patinaed to a rich, wood-colored finish. Concurrently, the bridge structure beneath the decking was painted with marine-grade paint. This initial phase has already made the bridge more durable, accessible, and safer, while also reducing maintenance requirements.

• Future Restoration (Planned August-October 2025): The next phase of restoration is scheduled from August to October 2025. This work will include replacing the bridge’s safety cables, stripping and repainting the bridge’s metal tubular “bones”, and planting two trees. Construction is anticipated to commence in August 2025 and last approximately three months.

SPU has already secured all necessary permits for this complex project from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, and Seattle Parks and Recreation. A key consideration for the construction schedule is the need to coordinate activities around fish migration windows to minimize environmental impact.

Key community benefits anticipated from the completed rehabilitation include:

• Improved pedestrian safety.

• Enhanced pedestrian access to the bridge, particularly for the sight-impaired.

• Reduced future closures, leading to less disruption for maintenance.

For additional information regarding the Salmon Bone Bridge Rehabilitation Project, you may contact Sara Stanley, Senior Project Manager, at sara.stanley@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 530-1096.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is one of the city’s major direct-service providers, encompassing the Water Utility, the Drainage and Wastewater Utility, and the Solid Waste Utility. Andrew Lee serves as the General Manager and CEO of SPU. The main office is located at 700 5th Avenue, Suite 4900, Seattle, WA, 98104. General inquiries can be directed to (206) 684-3000 or SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov