1st Avenue South Bridge Closed for 3-Day Repair Project

Northbound lanes of the key Seattle bridge shut down for essential maintenance work

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The northbound lanes of the First Avenue South bridge in Seattle are closed for a three-day repair project to address structural issues found during a recent inspection. The closure began on Monday morning and is scheduled to continue through Wednesday evening as crews work to stabilize and repair cracking sections of the bridge deck.

Why it matters

The First Avenue South bridge is a critical transportation link for drivers heading into downtown Seattle from the south on State Route 99. The temporary closure is expected to cause longer travel times and possible backups as traffic is detoured off the bridge during the repair work.

The details

The repair work is focused on stabilizing and repairing sections of the bridge deck that are cracking. The bridge will remain open to marine traffic beneath it while the work is underway. After the temporary repairs are complete, crews will continue additional phases of planned work in the coming weeks and months to further strengthen and replace deck sections.

  • The closure began at 5 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • The closure is scheduled to continue until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the bridge repair project.

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What’s next

After the temporary repairs are complete, crews will continue additional phases of planned work in the coming weeks and months to further strengthen and replace deck sections of the First Avenue South bridge.

The takeaway

This bridge closure highlights the ongoing need for infrastructure maintenance and investment in Seattle's transportation network. Commuters should plan ahead and consider alternate routes to avoid potential delays during the three-day repair project.