Repairs To Seattle's Aurora Bridge Will Close 2 Lanes For 10 Days

SEATTLE, WA — Work to repair a damaged steel support beam under Aurora Bridge will reduce traffic to two lanes in both directions beginning Halloween night. According to WSDOT, work will begin at 9 p.m. Thursday and require about 10 days to complete. Two of the three southbound lanes will close for the duration of the project, and temporary markings will allow southbound traffic into one northbound lane. A pedestrian walkway on the bridge's west side will also close.

Issues with the beam were first noted during a regular checkup in September. Engineers returned for a closer look last weekend and discovered advanced deterioration in the steel on Sunday. As a result, the support beam next to the damaged one is carrying twice the weight it was designed to handle. Special equipment to assist in the repairs was put in place Wednesday.

According to WSDOT, drivers should plan for trips downtown to take longer and consider alternate routes or transit options when possible. Drivers can find real-time traffic updates on the WSDOT app or social media feeds.