Update 9/16/25

The Seattle Department of Transportation reached out with a few corrections: 

• Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has informed Seattle City Light (SCL) of the outage.  SCL is responsible for maintaining the streetlights, including those on the bridge. 
• The streetlights on the West Seattle Bridge are out because of vandalism, not because of deferred maintenance. Previous outstanding maintenance work was completed by SDOT as part of the structural repair work prior to the re-opening of the West Seattle Bridge. 
• The luminaires on the streetlights have all been upgraded with LED units since 2014.  

We regret the error in our original report

Original post 9/13/25

The lights on the West Seattle Bridge have been damaged by vandals and several of the bridge’s overhead and underdeck lights have gone dark, especially on the High Bridge span. The outages are due to electrical system failures tied to aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance and the Seattle Times reports that vandals have also done some damage.

What’s Being Done:

• The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has acknowledged the issue and is planning targeted repairs this fall

• Crews are expected to replace faulty wiring and upgrade fixtures to LED systems, which are more energy-efficient and durable.

• Some lighting outages may persist until full access is granted for under-bridge work platforms.

• The Seattle Times story notes that no target date has been determined for repairs to the lights damaged by vandals.

Safety Concerns:

• While the bridge remains structurally sound after its 2022 reopening, residents have raised concerns about visibility and pedestrian safety, especially during early morning and evening commutes.