Admiral Way North and South Bridges Seismic Retrofit
Updated August 29, 2025
What's Happening Now?
We’ve reopened all lanes along the Admiral Way North and South Bridges, as well as Fairmount Ave N as construction on retrofits to help the bridge better withstand earthquakes is nearly complete!
Caption: We’ve removed all traffic control devices, such as cones, barriers, and candle poles from Admiral Way Bridges on and under the bridge.
Here’s what we’ve done to make the bridge stronger and less vulnerable in the event of an earthquake:
- Concrete Crack and Spall Repair: Throughout the bridge, crews have repaired concrete cracks and spalls. Concrete cracks and spalls can reduce bridge integrity and life span, fixing them is very important to keep the bridge in good condition.
- Carbon-Fiber Wrapping: After the concrete repair, we installed carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge’s crossbeams, columns, and piers. This lightweight composite material increases the strength and adds a protective layer to the bridge components, helping the bridge be more resilient in a seismic event.
- Installed and Replaced Components: As part of the seismic retrofit, crews strengthened the bridges by installing a shear key, retrofitting floor beams, and adding a concrete infill wall to reinforce the truss, making the bridge more resilient during a seismic event. They also replaced gusset plates and expansion joints, and added buckling-restrained braces to improve seismic performance. They strengthened the north deck with a continuous reinforced concrete chord to better withstand lateral rotation during earthquakes.
- Corrosion Repair and Prevention: Crews repaired corrosion damage on support structures under the bridge and painted the steel components of the bridge to reduce further corrosion damage.
- Slope Strengthening and Stabilization: Crews installed drilled shafts at both ends of the bridge and soil nails on the slopes below the bridge to make slope more secure. This improvement will strengthen the bridge’s resiliency to seismic events like earthquakes. During this slope stabilization work, our crews also installed new landscaping.
Caption: We’ve strengthened the bridge by reinforcing its columns, stabilized the slope, and improved the surrounding landscape for long-term resilience.
We expect the project to be finished in summer 2025.
We’ll continue to share updates as the final touches are completed. If you have questions, please contact us at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov o (206) 775-8734. You can also sign up to join our project listserv and receive project updates.
About the Project
Seattle is located in an earthquake-prone region, and earthquakes can seriously impact our bridges. To address this risk, the City of Seattle created the Bridge Seismic Program to evaluate which bridges are vulnerable and reinforce them to better withstand seismic events.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic retrofits, including the Admiral Way North and South Bridges. The Admiral Way North and South Bridges are older bridges built prior to modernizing the seismic design code.
The bridges are on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, above Fairmont Ave SW. While it seems like one bridge when you’re traveling on it, the Admiral Way North and South Bridges are actually two bridges, side-by-side. Both will be retrofitted, making them stronger and safer in the event of an earthquake.
The photo above shows an aerial view of the SW Admiral Way Bridge and surrounding streets, showing its connection to nearby residential areas.
We're not changing the current use and operation of the bridge. The Admiral Way North and South Bridges Seismic Retrofit Project will strengthen existing bridge components and reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Major construction work includes:
- Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen certain bridge elements
- Slope stabilization
- Steel painting
- Replacing bridge gusset plates
- Repairing cracks and damaged concrete
- Replacing the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge
Project Area
The bridges are on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, above Fairmont Ave SW.
What to expect during construction
Construction began July 2024 and is anticipated to be complete Summer 2025.
To complete the work as safely and efficiently as possible, there will be lane and sidewalk closures on SW Admiral Way at the bridge throughout construction. Additionally, Fairmount Ave SW under the bridge will be closed to people walking, biking, rolling, and driving during construction. We understand these closures will impact everyone who uses the bridge and Fairmount Ave SW regularly and we will do what we can to minimize impacts.
We currently anticipate the following construction impacts:
- Lane reductions on SW Admiral Way at the bridge.
- A full closure of Fairmount Ave SW during construction.
- Work in public spaces near your home or business.
- Temporary on-street parking restrictions, with "no park" signs placed 72 hours in advance.
- Staged construction equipment and materials as well as noise, dust, and vibrations in the work area.
- Typical weekday work hours of 7 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Project Schedule
Construction schedules are subject to change and depend on factors such as weather and availability of crews and materials.
Funding
The project is funded through the Levy to Move Seattle. Approved by voters in 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city. In addition, this project has received federal funding.
Get Involved
We’re committed to keeping you informed and collaborating with neighbors to minimize construction impacts as much as possible. Here’s how you can stay updated on the project:
- Sign up for our project listserv to receive weekly project updates
- Email the project team at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov
- Leave a voicemail at (206) 775-8734. A project representative will return your call.
Project Materials
- Admiral Way Fact Sheet (2024)
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