McGilvra Blvd E Bridge Seismic Retrofit
Updated May 8, 2025
What's Happening Now?
Upcoming Night Work: May 12
Crews will pave the bridge deck as part of the ongoing efforts to make the bridge stronger and better prepared for earthquakes. Here's what you need to know:
- Work Schedule: Paving is planned to begin at 8:00 PM on Monday, May 12 and is expected to be completed by 6:00 AM on Tuesday, May 13.
- Street Closure: McGilvra Blvd E will be fully closed from just south of the Seattle Tennis Club’s south entrance to just beyond the north entrance.
- Sidewalk Closure: The sidewalk in front of the Seattle Tennis Club will be closed during paving operations.
- General Impacts: You may notice construction noise, dust, and vibrations in the area during work hours.
- Weather Contingency: Paving is weather dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary. We'll keep you posted.
Traffic Reminder
NB McGilvra Blvd E between the Seattle Tennis Club’s north and south driveways is fully closed. The north driveway will remain open at all times. This closure helps keep everyone safe and allows our crews work efficiently.
We expect the project to be finished this summer.
We’ll continue to share updates as construction moves forward. If you have questions, please contact us at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov, or (206) 775-8734. If you want to receive project updates, sign up to join our project listserv.
About the Project
Seattle is located in an earthquake-prone region, and earthquakes can seriously impact our bridges. To address this risk, the City of Seattle created the Bridge Seismic Program to evaluate which bridges are vulnerable and reinforce them to better withstand seismic events.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic retrofits, including the McGilvra Blvd E Bridge. The McGilvra Blvd E Bridge is an older bridge built prior to modernizing the seismic design code.
This bridge provides a more direct connection for the Washington Park and Harrison/Denny-Blaine neighborhoods.
We're not changing the current use and operation of the bridge. The McGilvra Blvd E Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project will strengthen existing bridge components and reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes.
Here's what we'll be working on:
- Paving the road and replacing deck joints: We’ll remove the old asphalt from a portion of the bridge that wasn’t repaved last year, then repave the entire bridge surface and replace the joints between sections of the deck. This will make the road smoother and help the bridge last longer.
- Fixing chipped concrete under the bridge: We’ll repair areas where the concrete underneath the bridge has broken or chipped. These repairs will help keep the bridge strong over time.
- Removing old support beam and adding a security fence: We’ll remove an old, unused support beam and install a security fence for added safety.
What to expect during construction
- Crews will keep the east sidewalk fully open throughout the project.
- You won’t be able to park on the east side of McGilvra Blvd E between 39th Ave E and the north driveway entrance of the Seattle Tennis Club.
- Access through the Seattle Tennis Club’s south driveway entrance will be unavailable during construction.
- You will continue to have access to your home at all times. If a temporary driveway closure is necessary, we will provide advance notice.
- Crews will work in public areas near homes and businesses.
- You can expect typical construction impacts, such as noise, dust, vibrations, and equipment on site.
- Crews will work from 7 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Project schedule
30% Design | Complete |
60% Design | Complete |
90% Design | Complete |
Final Design | Complete |
Construction | August 2024 |
We expect the project to be finished in summer 2025. The schedule could change due to weather, crew availability, or materials -we’ll keep you posted!
Funding
The project is funded through the Levy to Move Seattle. Approved by voters in 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city.
Get involved
We're committed to keeping you informed and working with neighbors to limit construction impacts to the extent feasible. Here are some ways to get more information about the project:
- Sign up for our project listserv to receive weekly project updates
- Email the project team at BridgeSeismicRetrofit@seattle.gov
- Leave a voicemail at (206) 775-8734. A project representative will return your call.
Materials
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