Delridge Pedestrian Bridge Seismic Retrofit

Updated February 7, 2025

Project Overview

Earthquakes could have a major impact on Seattle’s infrastructure. To address seismic risks to city infrastructure, the City of Seattle established a bridge seismic program to assess how vulnerable the City’s bridges were to earthquakes, and to retrofit bridges to better withstand the potential impacts of an earthquake.  

As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic retrofits, including the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge. The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge is an older bridge built prior to modernizing the seismic design code. The bridge serves as a community asset, particularly for people who live or work at the Cooper School Artist Lofts/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and want to access the Delridge Playfield, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and Southwest Youth and Family Services building.

The photo above shows the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge, facing south.

We're not changing the current use and operation of the bridge. The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge seismic retrofits will strengthen existing bridge components and reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Major construction work includes:  

• Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge’s superstructure, columns, and footings. 
• Separating the bridge’s ramps from its structure and building up a lightweight fill support for the ramps. 
• Adding new expansion joints at the bridge’s ramps. 
• Removing, modifying and reinstalling the bridge’s handrails. 
• Modifying the ends of the bridge’s handrails at new expansion joints. 

Project Area

Overhead view of the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge and surrounding area.

What to expect during construction

Construction began in April 2024 and was substantially completed by early January 2025. Crews are now working on finishing touches during temporary bridge closures as we approach the end of construction. 

In addition to temporary bridge closures, we currently anticipate the following construction impacts:   

• Work in the public right-of-way near your home or business 
• Temporary on-street parking restrictions, with "no park" signs placed 72 hours in advance
• Temporary sidewalk and crossing closures for people walking and rolling. Detours will be provided and signed
• 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 also 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.  

Get Involved 

We're committed to keeping you informed and working with neighbors to limit construction impacts to the extent feasible. Here are some ways to get more information about 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.  

Materials

• Delridge BSR Fact Sheet (April 2024)

Translation and Interpretation 

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