Upcoming Ballard Bridge weekend closures scheduled for vital maintenance and preservation work

View of the Ballard Bridge. Photo: SDOT

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At-a-glance:

We need to close the Ballard Bridge over several weekends in the fall to complete maintenance and preservation work on the 107-year-old bridge.
Work includes replacing worn expansion joints to keep the bridge strong and resilient, as part of the 15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project.
This blog post details the scheduled closure dates and offers resources to get around while the bridge is closed.
We expect to keep the bridge open to pedestrians and bike riders during these closures.
We recognize that closing the Ballard Bridge can affect your travel plans, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
The upcoming closures build on recently completed work over the summer to replace aging pavement on the Ballard Bridge.
Please be sure to sign up for email updates to get the latest details from our team. Thank you.

Ballard Bridge closure dates

Please stay tuned for details about future bridge closures as they’re confirmed.
You can visit our website for the latest information and sign up here for email updates to stay informed.

Getting around during the closure

Pedestrians and bike riders

Pedestrians and bike riders will be able to cross the Ballard Bridge while it’s closed to drivers.
One side of the walking and biking path is planned to remain open at all times.
People may also need to get off and walk their bikes for safety reasons.

Drivers and freight

The primary, most reliable detour route for drivers is the Aurora Bridge (SR 99).
Drivers may also reroute to the University Bridge or I-5 to cross the Ship Canal.
The Fremont Bridge will be open but due to its limited capacity, we recommend drivers consider using other routes.
During these bridge closures, posted detour signs will help guide drivers to alternate routes to get around the closure. We also encourage drivers to detour to other routes prior to reaching the Ballard Bridge area if possible.

Transit riders

Plan ahead for longer bus trips as buses that normally use the Ballard Bridge will be rerouted to the Fremont Bridge.
Some bus stops near the Ballard Bridge may be temporarily relocated to support the closures.
To stay informed about transit service in the area, follow King County Metro’s service advisories and sign up for transit alerts.

Boaters

Boats will still be able to pass under the Ballard Bridge.

Other ways to travel

While the bridge is closed, consider the options listed below to get around. You can also shop local – Ballard businesses are open during construction. Here are a few travel options:

Bus: Visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip. You can also follow King County Metro’s service advisories and sign up for transit alerts.
Bicycle: Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seattle By Bike guidebook.
Bike and scooter share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page.
Walking and rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination.
Flip your trip: Visit FlipYourTrip.org to learn about different ways to get around.
RideshareOnline: If you need to drive, consider carpooling. Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.

Why we need to close the bridge

We need to take care of our bridges through proactive maintenance and preservation, particularly movable bridges like the Ballard Bridge that were built over a century ago. Full closures are necessary when we are working on a long stretch of the Ballard Bridge that includes 16 separate bridge expansion joints.

Expansion joints are designed to accommodate bridge movement and temperature changes. They help prevent the bridge from being damaged during extreme weather or major earthquakes.

Replacing the expansion joints requires removing the concrete next to these joints. Construction crews will remove the concrete around the joints and examine the condition of supporting steel beams and rebar, then replace any deteriorated parts of the supporting structure. They will then install the new expansion joints and pour new concrete around them. The concrete needs at least 24 hours to cure (harden) before the roadway is reopened to traffic.

Other nearby projects

We’re closely coordinating with several other projects in the area to minimize travel impacts.

To stay informed about each project, please use the links below:

Project schedule

Construction of the 15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project and Leary Way Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project started in July 2024 and work is scheduled to continue through 2025.

Recap of work completed this summer

Our construction team has been working hard to complete the initial repaving of the Ballard Bridge. The first step of this process was to remove the old asphalt, which was in worse condition than expected – you can see the crumbled pavement in the photo below. After all the old asphalt was cleared away, the construction crew poured a smooth layer of new asphalt and repainted the lane lines on the bridge.

Nighttime picture of a pile of old pavement dug up in chip-like shapes. The bulldozer used to dig up the pavement shines its light at the pile. Streetlight marks go across the picture. — *Construction workers use a bulldozer to remove old pavement from the Ballard Bridge. Photo: SDOT*

A bulldozer parked against the edge of the bridge behind a line of reflecting orange cones as a streetlight and the moon shines a yellow-orange hue in the night sky. Three construction workers in neon yellow gear stand in front of the bulldozer working on the bridge, one construction worker sits on top of the bulldozer. — *Construction crews work overnight to pour new asphalt for the Ballard Bridge’s roadway, supporting smoother travel for people driving and riding the bus. Photo: SDOT*

Early morning photo of the repaved Ballard Bridge with its darker asphalt pavement and white lane lines. Streetlamps light up the road and the cloudy sky makes the light inside surrounding short buildings brighter. — *View of the repaved bridge as it enter the Ballard neighborhood. Photo: SDOT*

The construction team has also been improving sidewalks and intersections for pedestrians, starting at the intersection of 15th Ave NW and NW 56th St. Crews have been working their way south towards the Ballard Bridge, replacing concrete, improving tree pits, and repainting directional signage as they go.

Four construction workers with neon yellow vests crouch down as they smooth the pavement at a curb on NW 56th St. One constructor worker stands behind the three crouching workers to pour the pavement into the sidewalk. The curb is near a light tan building. — *Construction crews placing and smoothing pavement for a new sidewalk at 15th Ave NW and NW 56th St. Photo: SDOT*

Construction workers install sidewalk with new concrete next to a street. Large buildings, trees, and cars are in the background. Orange construction markers are throghout. — **During:** Crews work to place new concrete sidewalks.

Stay informed

Visit our project webpage
Sign up for email updates
Follow King County Metro’s service advisories and sign up for transit alerts
Email the project team: 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov
Call the project team: 206-512-3950 (please leave a voicemail and we will return your call)

Editor’s Note – Nov. 15, 2024: We updated this blog post to include the latest information about planned Ballard Bridge closures.

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