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Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge painting project preserves a timeless connection in Seattle for years to come

by on March 27, 2025
View of the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge and the Seattle skyline, looking northwest. Photo: SDOT

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At-a-glance:

  • Bridge painting is moving forward on the historic Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge, located between Seattle’s North Beacon Hill and Little Saigon neighborhoods.
  • The bridge, built in 1911, is Seattle’s oldest steel beam bridge – nearly 115 years old!
  • We’re removing old lead-based paint and replacing it with new paint that meets today’s environmental standards.
  • The project will help maintain and preserve the bridge, ensuring it can serve Seattle travelers both today and in future years.
  • Read more in this blog post about the project, what to expect during construction, and a few cultural facts and historic bridge photos.
  • You can sign up for project email updates and visit our website for the latest details.

Why the project is needed

We’re repainting the historic Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge between Chinatown-International District and Beacon Hill to ensure it stays strong and safe for generations. Regular maintenance, like repainting, prevents rust from building up and corroding the steel, keeping the bridge strong and beautiful.

While the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge has been repainted in the past, this is the first time that we’ll fully remove the existing layers of paint. This will allow us to update the bridge with new eco-friendly paint.

Repainting the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge also helps keep this historic structure in good condition, and reduces the need for larger, more disruptive maintenance projects in the future, ensuring the bridge remains accessible and reliable for all.

Where the bridge is located

Map showing the Dr Jose Rizal Bridge in Seattle with an orange line and label. Other neighborhoods including the Central District, Beacon Hill, Mount Baker, SODO, Downtown, First Hill, and others are on the map, as well as I-5, I-90, Lake Washington, and Elliott Bay.
Map showing the bridge, project area, and nearby neighborhoods. Graphic: SDOT

How bridge repainting works

1) Removing old paint

  • The bridge’s original paint is decades old and contains lead, which was commonly used in the past to prevent rust and damage. However, as this paint ages and flakes, it could release lead into the environment.
  • We’ll safely remove the old paint and use a sealed containment tent under the bridge. This tent will catch old paint, rust, and debris and keep it out of the air and off the ground.

2) Applying new eco-friendly paint

  • Once the old paint is removed, we will repaint the bridge using environmentally friendly paint.
  • We’ll apply five layers of paint, matching the bridge’s current color.
  • The new paint will also protect the steel bridge from corrosion and is designated to withstand Seattle’s damp, rainy weather.

Getting around during construction

We’ll keep the bridge open in both directions for people driving, biking, and taking the bus during construction. We’ll also keep at least one sidewalk on the bridge open, and place detour signs to help guide people through work areas.

Much of the work will take place underneath the bridge, in the area where it crosses S Dearborn St. We’ll keep travel lanes and sidewalks fully open, except during nighttime work and when temporary closures are needed to safely complete key activities.

We encourage you to sign up for project email updates (you’ll find this project under the ‘Traffic and Construction’ subscription topic), and visit our website for the latest details.

Two men smile while walking on a sidewalk. Tree leaves are on the ground below, along with large trees and a parked car in the background. City buildings are far in the background.
Two people walk up the hill from the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge in North Beacon Hill. Photo: SDOT

“The bridge has been extremely significant for our Little Saigon neighborhood. It provides a great location for photographers, connects commuters traveling into the Little Saigon neighborhood from the Beacon Hill area and vice versa, and now connects the new Beacon Pacific Village Apartments to our neighborhood. The bridge is vital to the major bus lines that serve folks who work, play, worship, conduct business, etc., in Little Saigon.” – Andy Pham, Community Engagement Manager, Friends of Little Saigon 

Cultural significance of the bridge and Dr. Jose Rizal

The bridge, originally named the 12th Avenue South Bridge, connects Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and Beacon Hill, two neighborhoods with a rich history as Asian American, working-class communities.

Why is it named after Dr. Jose Rizal?

  • In 1974, local Filipino American leaders Vic Bacho and Trinidad Rojo campaigned to rename the bridge to honor Dr. Jose Rizal.
  • This renaming, along with the dedication of the nearby Dr. Jose Rizal Park, celebrates Seattle’s Filipino community and Rizal’s lasting influence. 

Cultural Significance

  • In 1982, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under its original name, 12th Avenue South Bridge. 

Who was Dr. Jose Rizal?

  • Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896) was a Filipino leader and writer who worked for independence from Spanish rule.
  • Through his writings, he exposed injustice under colonial rule and inspired Filipinos to stand up for change.
  • Even after his execution in 1896, Rizal remains a symbol of Filipino pride and resistance.

Reference: Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project. (n.d.). Report on the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge and Dr. Jose Rizal Park. University of Washington. 

A bust, or sculpture, of a man, with a large tree and building in the background.
Bust of Dr. Jose Rizal, sculpted by the late Filipino master sculptor, Anastacio Caedo. Located at Dr. Jose Rizal Park. Photo by Laurel Mercury.

Bridge photos over the years: 1917, 1976, & 2023

An old black and white photo of a large bridge. Rail tracks are on the street below.
The 12th Avenue South Bridge in 1917. Old rail tracks pass below the bridge, on what is now S Dearborn St. Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives Digital Collections
View of street level of a large bridge. Several cars are traveling on the street below. Signs say "Do not enter" and "North to Vancouver, B.C.".
12th Avenue South Bridge [Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge] in 1979. View from S Dearborn St, looking east. Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives Digital Collections
An aerial view of a bridge and highway looking toward a large downtown cityscape and water. Large buildings and cars and trees are located throughout the image.
View of the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge in 2023, looking northwest toward downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. Photo: SDOT

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