SEATTLE – The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is pleased to announce the completion of the Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Over the past 16 months, SDOT has rebuilt and retrofitted the historic bridge to meet current safety standards. The construction project was completed on schedule.
Built in 1910, the bridge is one of the oldest permanent steel roadway bridges in the City of Seattle and serves as a critical arterial for more than 1,000 vehicles each day and mass transit. The project included modern safety enhancements while preserving the bridge’s historic elements.
Yesler Bridge Improvements
SDOT worked alongside various advisory boards and groups to preserve the unique elements of the bridge including original pedestrian railings, fascia girders, columns, cladding, capitals, and corbels. The rehabilitated Yesler Bridge also features seismic improvements that will allow all users to travel more safely. The bridge features a new single-span superstructure, ADA curb ramps, a rehabilitated east abutment wall, and new west abutment wall, all of which ensure the longevity of this historic bridge.
Total project cost is $19.8 million. Funding comes from the Bridging the Gap (BTG) transportation levy passed by voters in November 2006 and a grant from the Federal Highway Bridge Program. The project also has $10 million in federal highway funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Local Programs Bridge Program.
Scott Kubly, SDOT Director
“The Yesler Bridge is one of the most recognizable and architecturally distinct bridges in Seattle. We’re proud to have maintained the historic design elements while also completing infrastructure upgrades that increase accessibility, connectivity, and safety for everyone. We want to thank the community for working with us while this project was completed.”