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Weekly Update: West Seattle Bridge

by on January 11, 2021
West Seattle Bridge at sunset. Photo Credit: Madison Linkenmeyer

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If you need this information translated, please call (206) 400-7511. 

如果您需要此信息翻譯成中文 請致電 (206) 400-7511. 

Kung kailangan mo ang impormasyon na ito na nakasalin sa (206) 400-7511. 

Tagalog mangyari lamang na tumawag sa (206) 400-7511. 

Si necesita traducir esta información al español, llame al (206) 400-7511. 

Odeeffannoon kun akka siif (206) 400-7511. 

Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này chuyển ngữ sang tiếng Việt xin gọi (206) 400-7511. 

የዚህን መረጃ ትርጉም ከፈለጉ፣ በዚህ ስልክ ቁጥር ይደውሉ፡ (206) 400-7511. 

ናይዚ ሓበሬታ ትርጉም እንተደሊኹም፣ በዚ ቁጽሪ ስልኪ ይድውሉ፡ (206) 400-7511. 

당신이 번역이 정보를 필요로하는 경우에, (206) 400-7511 로 전화해주십시오. 

Happy New Year! We’re excited to be back with you after a two-week break, and for the year ahead. We’re posting this blog to keep you informed about the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Safety Program. 

In This Week’s Update: 

“Don’t go Low;” Low Bridge Photo Enforcement Starts Today, January 11 

To raise awareness of $75 citations, we’re starting a digital ad campaign. Graphic says: Low Bridge Restricted Access 5am to 9pm. Don't Go Low.
To raise awareness of automated enforcement on the Low Bridge and $75 citations, we’re starting a digital ad campaign using the graphic above. Don’t go Low – instead, use the many other ways to get to and from West Seattle. 

Beginning today, January 11, 2021, the automated photo enforcement system on the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) will turn on, and unauthorized low bridge users will be subject to a $75 citation for every trip across the low bridge. 

To keep the low bridge clear for emergency vehicles – as well as transit and heavy freight – we’re saying, “don’t go low.” Instead, please use alternate routes when traveling to and from West Seattle by car. We will be monitoring low bridge traffic volumes in early 2021, and the data from January and future months will inform whether we can expand access. See our webpage for more details. 

Recent Work at 35th Ave SW & SW Trenton St 

This past Saturday, January 9, from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., crews worked at the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Trenton St to add signal loop detectors.

What are signal loop detectors, you ask? They are a traffic detection device that is cut into the road near a signal. Loops are what notify the traffic signal that a vehicle is waiting at the intersection for a green light. So, in this case, after Saturday’s work, when drivers along SW Trenton St pull up to 35th Ave SW, the traffic signal will be able to change such that those drivers can continue on their way a little more quickly. 

Two Months of Free Vanpooling for West Seattle Commuters

Vanpool shown with a bike on the back about to drive over the West Seattle Low Bridge. Vanpooling across the Low Bridge is one way to avoid traffic along detour routes.
Vanpooling across the low bridge is one way to avoid traffic along detour routes. Photo Credit: Tim Durkan. 

If you’re looking to shorten your commute via access to the low bridge, save money, share the responsibility of driving, and more, a vanpool group is an efficient and sustainable way to do so. Metro is offering people commuting to and from West Seattle the opportunity to get the first two months of vanpooling for free from January 4 to March 31, 2021 if you start a new Metro Vanpool with two or more commuters! Commuters can be neighbors, co-workers or other people who live and work near you. See this SDOT Blog post from January 4 for more details. 

Next West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force Meeting on January 13 

The West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force (CTF) will hold its first meeting of the year this Wednesday, January 13 from 12 to 2 p.m. CTF members will discuss the Reconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan and updates on the Low Bridge access policy. You can tune into the meeting via this YouTube link. 

Filed Under: Rideshare, SDOT, Traffic and Construction, West Seattle Bridge