All lanes along the Admiral Way North and South Bridges, as well as Fairmount Ave N, have officially reopened to traffic as construction on crucial seismic retrofits is nearing completion. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced the removal of all traffic control devices, signaling a significant milestone for the project aimed at making the bridges more resilient to earthquakes.

The Admiral Way North and South Bridges Seismic Retrofit Project is expected to be fully finished in the next couple of weeks Seattle, being an earthquake-prone region, faces the risk of serious impacts to its infrastructure. This project is a key component of the City of Seattle's Bridge Seismic Program, which identifies vulnerable bridges and reinforces them. The Admiral Way bridges, constructed before modern seismic design codes, were selected for retrofitting as part of the Levy to Move Seattle. Although they appear as one bridge to travelers, they are in fact two distinct structures, both of which have undergone extensive upgrades.

Key improvements made to strengthen the bridges include:

• Concrete Crack and Spall Repair: Crews have repaired cracks and spalls throughout the bridge to enhance its integrity and extend its lifespan.

• Carbon-Fiber Wrapping: A lightweight composite material has been installed to strengthen the bridge's crossbeams, columns, and piers, adding a protective layer and increasing resilience during seismic events.

• Structural Reinforcement: This involved retrofitting floor beams, adding a concrete infill wall to reinforce the truss, replacing gusset plates and expansion joints, and incorporating buckling-restrained braces to improve seismic performance. The north deck was also strengthened with a continuous reinforced concrete chord to better withstand lateral rotation during earthquakes.

• Corrosion Repair and Prevention: Damaged support structures beneath the bridge were repaired, and steel components were painted to prevent future corrosion.

• Slope Strengthening and Stabilization: Drilled shafts were installed at both ends of the bridge and soil nails on the slopes below, making the slopes more secure and improving the bridge's overall resilience to seismic events. This work also included new landscaping.

The project is located on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, situated above Fairmont Ave SW. It is funded through the Levy to Move Seattle, a 9-year, $930 million initiative approved by voters in 2015, which aims to improve safety, maintain infrastructure, and invest in travel options. The project has also received federal funding.

For those with questions or seeking further updates, the public can contact the project team via email at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov or by calling (206) 775-8734. Information is available for translation by calling the same number. Residents can also sign up for the project listserv to receive ongoing updates,