West Seattle Bridge team lifted work platforms into place to help advance final bridge repairs

View of the first work platform rising into place. Photo credit: SDOT

Editor’s Note (February 3, 2022): We added a several photos and a time-lapse video of the final two work platforms being lifted into place on Saturday, January 29. The first two platforms were lifted into place on January 8; photos and a time-lapse video of that work can also be found further below, in our original blog post published on January 11. In total, four work platforms were installed in January. You can also find more photos in our SDOT Flickr collection.

Check out our time-lapse video of the work platform lift on January 29

Time-lapse video of our team working to hoist the second set of two work platforms for the West Seattle Bridge repairs on January 29, 2022.

Photos of work platforms being lifted into place on January 29

Crews work to move a work platform into place prior to lifting it up to the West Seattle Bridge to support upcoming repair work. In this photo, heavy machinery is used to move it along the ground and nearby tracks, prior to the lift. — The team uses heavy equipment to carefully move one of the new work platforms into place prior to lifting it up to the West Seattle Bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

Several workers wearing orange safety vests attach the work platform to equipment used to lift it into place. Four people stand on the platform making the connections, and other heavy machinery, workers, and smaller vehicles are visible in the background. — Team members prepare the work platform to be lifted into place. Photo credit: SDOT

The work platform begins to lift off. Grass, roadway, tracks, and the Duwamish Waterway are visible in the background. — Liftoff! The work platform heads up as it begins the journey approximately 120 feet in the air to reach the West Seattle Bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

The work platform continues to raise, at approximately halfway elevated, while workers look on from the ground below. — Halfway there. The team looks on as the work platform continues to rise toward its destination at the West Seattle Bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

The work platform continues to rise, nearly to the top of its lift, where it will be attached to the West Seattle Bridge. — Almost there. The work platform nearing the top of the lift. Photo credit: SDOT

The work platform arrives to the West Seattle Bridge, where it will be attached and provide access for workers to conduct repairs to the high bridge structure. Clouds and blue skies can be seen in the upper right of the photo. — An elevated view. The work platform arriving at its destination, where it will support access for the team to conduct repairs to the West Seattle Bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

Original Blog post – January 11, 2022:

This past weekend we hoisted the first two of four hanging work platforms to the underside of the West Seattle Bridge so our team can work on the exterior of the bridge during the final phase of repairs this year. The lifts began on Saturday, January 8 at 8 AM and were completed at around 3 PM.

Check out our time-lapse video of the work platform lift on January 8

This short time-lapse video shows the lifting of the first two temporary work platforms that will provide access for repairs to the West Seattle Bridge. The video was taken on Saturday, January 8. Video credit: SDOT.

The work platforms are essential for our final phase of bridge rehabilitation because they provide temporary workspace for crews to use while they inject epoxy to seal cracks and wrap carbon-fiber for added strength on the underside of the bridge. The platforms are being positioned in four locations, approximately 120 feet above ground. They help provide safe access for crews to complete bridge repairs in advance of re-opening the bridge in mid-2022.

To lift the platforms, crews used industrial winches (devices used to adjust cable tension to support the lifting process) from the bridge deck to pull the platform into place from the ground. Workers used these winches to lift the platforms using metal cables that were fed through small openings on the bridge deck, which crews had previously created using high-pressure water jets. Crews then secured them to the bridge using rigging cables that were installed last month.

Photos of work platforms being lifted into place on January 8

Rigging cables hang from the West Seattle Bridge. The work platforms are attached to these steel cables that will support the weight of the platforms as crews complete epoxy injections and carbon fiber wrapping on the exterior of the bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

Two platform bed trucks await the first of two work platforms that were hoisted into place on Saturday, January 8. The platforms were lifted by cranes and forklifts onto the truck beds, then driven into position underneath the bridge in the hoisting area. Photo credit: SDOT

Cranes and forklifts work in tandem to bring a work platform onto truck beds. Photo credit: SDOT

A work platform is loaded onto trucks and moved into position for hoisting. Photo credit: SDOT

The hoist begins. The temporary work platform starts to be lifted upwards. — Liftoff – the hoist begins! Photo credit: SDOT

Views of the first platform rising into place.

The process for installing these work platforms began with the assembly of metal beams at the base of the high bridge. Each of the platforms requires 13 beams fastened together to create a strong and stable foundation. After assembling the metal beams, we installed decking where workers will stand while they repair the bridge. The work platforms also include railings to help keep crews safe while they work on the high bridge repairs.

Stay tuned to the West Seattle Bridge Program website for the latest updates.

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