Our West Seattle bridge was constructed less than 30 years ago is now ready to crumble due to stress fractures, WTF.... "Come on man" this is the gateway to Seattle for anybody living in West Seattle. I hate that the city allowed for this to happen since I'm sure it could be prevented. Now I must deploy my carbon footprint upon society even more since it takes an extra 30 minutes of driving to get into downtown or anywhere. At night your allowed to use the lower bridge from 9pm to 5am without monetary penalty, THANKS SEATTLE! I'm a local it should be FREE FOR ME since I live here! Here's an original thought, maybe the City Council instead of focusing there brain power on the homeless crisis or giving deadbeats free stuff, how about helping THE TAX PAYERS out who actually use the bridge to drive to work and pay your salary's a functioning bridge. Just one more reason to leave Seattle! read more

West Seattle Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Is it strange to have a favorite bridge? Perhaps. Is it strange that my favorite bridge is the West Seattle Bridge? Probably very much so. I spent over four years living in the east bay of the San Francisco Bay Area looking at the Golden Gate Bridge on a daily basis and still the West Seattle Bridge pulls out as my favorite. Even when its pillars are vandalized with spray paint the elegance of the structure shines brightest. Clean and marred, the bridge is beautiful in many ways. Before moving back to the greater Seattle area I would talk to my parents about the cracking in the bridge. As I was in school researching fracture/failure of materials at the time, this development provided a beacon drawing me home. Happy to be back and to get to see the West Seattle Bridge while repairs are being made to strengthen it. Cracks and repairs, especially the putty/epoxy applied for reinforcement, are easily visible from the West Seattle Bridge Trail that runs on the Spokane Street Bridge. Perfect bridge to take in the beauty of bridge architecture and engineering in general. read more

See all

The joke about West Seattle is that West Seattle is its own area, despite it being part of Seattle. But let's be real. No one likes driving over to West Seattle because it feels so far out, even though it's a charming area with incredible views of the Seattle skyline. That's my favorite part of crossing over the West Seattle Bridge - the views. You get the best views of downtown Seattle and the port. It's nice to be a passenger en route. Yet, traffic is absolutely horrible here, even if you're on the bus to West Seattle. It's a nightmare during rush hour, so would not advise crossing over unless you have to at this time. The bridge is also a long one, so the trek isn't any easier during peak hours. Overall, not a huge fan of making this drive and crossing this bridge. But once you do get to West Seattle, it's easy to forget about the commute and struggle...until you have to cross back over. read more

Dear West Seattle Bridge, I know you normally get a lot of hate from people but I wanted to write you to let you know the love I have for you. You are by far my most favorite cantilevered segmental bridge. Your concrete complexion gives you that rough and rugged look that I like in a man, you are a male bridge right? You are a little young for me at a mere age of 23 but that's OK you make me happy, most of the time, but unfortunately it will never work between us been there done that never again sorry. I know you get a bad rap for your back ups in the morning with people trying to get on I-5 but I'm not one of them. Metro and I are best friends and a lovely Metro bus gets me to work downtown in no time by using the most wonderful Bus Lane you've created for them, thanks for that by the way. My morning driver easily zooms over you and jumps on your step-sister the Viaduct and gets me to work in one piece. Though I will admit when you have an accident things can get ugly but since that's not an everyday occurrence and you have no control over them I let it slide and pray that no one, no even you got injured. And if that happens in the summer time I know I can take Metro's cousin the Water Taxi and still get downtown on time. Anyways you do an excellent job of keeping the "I'm too good to drive over the West Seattle Bridge" and the "What?!?! You expect me to go to West Seattle? That's so FAR away! No way you come over here." people out of my lovely neighborhood and you do an excellent job of getting me to and from any place I need to go outside of West Seattle, I just have to remember to always have my sunglasses handy because driving in the sun can be blinding and that tends to happen twice a day for me. All My Love, Mitzie H. P.S. If there's anyway you can work on keeping the puke ass kids from coming down to Alki I'd appreciate that. If not them how about the slow ass Sunday drivers those don't need to make it over you either. read more

See all

I have to take this bridge everyday on the bus to get to work. What can I say; it's a bridge. The worst part: TRAFFIC. Even with the bus-only lanes, it can still be FOR-E-VER (that was said with my best voice from the Sandlot, you know what I mean). Plus, it only takes ONE accident to really mess everything up! The best part: SPEED. You when not backed up with traffic, the bridge really is a great way to get in and out of West Seattle. There are lots of lanes, and you can get pretty speedy (let's say 50 mph). Improvements? More lanes! I know that's not possible, SDOT. Other improvements? Build some light-rail out of West Seattle so I don't have to take this bridge in traffic! :) read more

I have a love-hate relationship with this bridge. 99% love, and 1% hate. Majority of the time, there is no traffic, great views of Seattle, and very few traffic police. But... when traffic is horrible, it's really horrible. And since it's a bridge, you're kind of stuck. Also, when there is snow or ice, the bridge is extremely dangerous & sometimes closes. read more

Fastest way out of West Seattle. The view is cool of downtown and the port to see the boats and cranes dealing with all of the cargo. I drive on this industrial bridge for work and can get from West Seattle to downtown in 7 minutes when it's not rush hour. Traffic sucks from 7-10 am and 3-6 pm M-F. read more

It closed. I no can use. I give bad review. I try go, they say "No, you no can go" but I say "yes I need to go because I need get to other side" they say " no bridge close", so I is mad. 1 out of 5 star for close. read more

Ok this review is more about how this bridge is taken care of and run. There isnt really any fancy like special views or sites like other bridges its just a bridge that connects you to different parts of Seattle. Yes the traffic really sucks on here from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm. Its absolutely atrocious how bad this bridge is managed. Im not sure what department in the city but after using this bridge for a few years Ive noticed how horrible its run. Now when they do construction they sometimes dont get the signs up and out early letting you know in advance that there is a closure for the weekend. Id drive it Mon thru Fri a few times a day and there wasnt a sign saying closed for this weekend and come Sat Im screwed. Checking the news they sometimes mention a closure but not always. WTF! Also when they set up detours around the bridge to and from different parts of the city its not always up in a timely matter and they sometimes dont have signs at every turn or go really long before you see a sign so your not sure where to go. Its bad enough its a maze and there is construction going on and around different parts of the city leading to entrances and exits that makes driving crazy enough as it is already but you gotta deal with the issues with the bridge. Anyone who's lived out her over the past 5 years knows how bad they are at running things, especially look at the mess of the Mercer St / Exit 167 off I-5 disaster. I feel sorry for the businesses around that area and people who had to drive/use that exit/area it was much much worse then the screw ups with the bridge. read more

Weee! lol I travel over this "industrial bridge" by choice, not because I have to, so I have nothing negative to say. I have never sat through the traffic or expect anything from it besides getting me from point A to point B. It is amazing to cross over this bridge for someone who never gets the chance! Born and Raised in Hawaii, yes - it is cheap amusement! lol read more

Sucks balls. Nothing says late day in the office like missing your last stop downtown and ending up in West Seattle. Getting stuck in morning commute traffic on this bridge on your way downtown is guaranteed. The lesson here? Put away that Seattle Met and pay attention to where you at dawg! read more

This bridge scares the crap out of me. It's really steep and loooonnggggg at a graduated incline. But I have never had a problem with traffic on it to or from West Seattle on the weekends and it takes me right to two of my favorite spots...Alki Beach for a run and Salty's for a romantic dinner! It is very tall and definitely different looking than other bridges around Seattle. Worth a drive over! read more

I love taking the bridge! It gives you great views if you are a passenger (drivers please don't look at the amazing view while moving) and the majority of the time the traffic isn't horrible! WIN WIN! read more

I do like this bridge except for the insane-o traffic in the morning and the deranged drivers in the afternoon. As long as you're not a 9-5, the bridge is a-ok. It's not the most beautiful thing to look at but hey, it hasn't fallen yet. read more

Sometimes it's crazy busy but usually it's convenient and the quickest way out of WS

It's a lovely bridge. And apparently everyone else thinks so too because it was pretty close to a parking lot this morning. All I could do was think about how lucky I am that I don't have to take this every day to work. Can't wait for the construction to be done. read more

Great bridge. Heavy traffic at times between 7am and 830am on week days but aside from that no other problems.

The bridge is terrible in the morning, but the quickest way in and out of west sea- always a pretty view leaving though

Here is what I think about having to drive across the West Seattle bridge during prime commute time... . http://www.westseattlebridge.blogspot.com/ That being said... I love West Seattle, and it isn't the bridge's fault that so many people feel the same way I do about our super cool location. http://www.westseattlebridge.blogspot.com/ read more

I commute 3.4 miles from West Seattle to East Marginal. By anyone's standards, this should be an easy commute. Today, the lower bridge opened 3 times during the A.M. commute. It took me 68 minutes to make that 3.4 mile commute. A few months ago, it took 108 minutes. This is insane....... This town is quickly becoming unsustainable. How they allow more building permits without investing in infrastructure is just.......irresponsible to the point of being criminal. I've been in Seattle since 91' and I don't know how much longer I can take this. I love this town, but these days it's just too hard to get around to enjoy it. Can we please elect some people who don't just do everything the land developers want in their form over function mentality. Since they refuse to schedule lower bridge openings, or give a 20 minute warning, or anything, I propose we allow a bike lane/walking lane on the upper bridge. Then I could bike to work after dropping off the kids without riding through 2 homeless encampments and avoid those 2 ft deep potholes along with railroad tracks that stick out 6 inches and pop bike tires. The bus is just not an option if you don't work downtown. There doesn't seem to be any winning moves when it comes to playing "Escape West Seattle". When do we get to review the railroad crossings that always seem to be blocking main thoroughfares for the afternoon commute? They move forward, they move back, they move forward again and just sit there for 20 minutes............ read more

it would be nice not to have the soc called bus lanes that are moslty empty. the police presence protecting the lane due to the seattle council blow hards. It would help traffic to open the lane up. Also toe now delrige road where they took out the lane to the bridge for bike or bus use obly until the very bottom ot the bridge is a joke. They just made the traffic worse. More wast of our tax dollars. read more