Fairview Ave N Bridge Replacement
Updated: October 1, 2021
What's happening now?
Fairview Ave N bridge is now open!
Crews have completed work on the Fairview Ave N Bridge and all related work in the project area. We hope you're enjoying the new bridge!
Please enjoy this photo compilation that shows photos from bridge construction, the opening event, and features of the new bridge.
Thanks again to those of you who were able to join us in celebrating the bridge opening event on Saturday, July 24. Please see our blog post that recaps the opening event.
Schedule
Early 2019
Advertisement for construction contractor
Began ongoing public and stakeholder outreach
Summer 2019
Confirmed construction contractor
Preparation work began for Aloha St intersection detour
Continued ongoing public and stakeholder outreach
Fall 2019
Full bridge closure and construction began
Continued ongoing public and stakeholder outreach
2021
Bridge reopened to traffic
Why did we replace the bridge?
The Fairview Ave N bridge was the last wooden bridge on a major road in Seattle. While it was safe for travel, the bridge didn't meet current seismic standards. The timber piles on the western half of the bridge, which held up the roadway, were decaying. The concrete girders on the eastern half of the bridge, which stabilized the street, were cracked.
Bridge design
The new, wider street helps all users, making it safer for people to drive, walk, bike, and access transit along Fairview Ave N. The bridge features sidewalks on both sides of the street, a separated 12-foot 2-way bike lane on the west side of the bridge, and slightly wider northbound vehicle lanes for people driving cars and trucks.
Along with seismic improvements, we built 3 lookout points along the west side of the bridge to provide viewing platforms looking out to Lake Union. They replaced the lookout area at the northern end of the bridge.
Bridge users enjoying the view of Lake Union.
Funding
MOVE SEATTLE LEVY: Your tax dollars at work
With the Levy to Move Seattle, passed by voters in November 2015, SDOT committed to replacing Seattle's aging and seismically vulnerable Fairview Ave N bridge, improving corridor safety and updating the street design to accommodate all people. The Levy to Move Seattle invests $27 million toward the total estimated project cost of $52 million. We're proud to begin construction on this cornerstone project and deliver on our commitment to voters.
Outreach Summary
Throughout the project, the outreach team:
- Shared regular email updates about construction activities
- Posted regular web page updates
- Hosted monthly stakeholder meetings
- Conducted door-to-door outreach distributing construction information
- Sent a preconstruction mailer to over 11,000 addresses in the South Lake Union and Eastlake neighborhoods
- Presented briefings for community groups and area employers
- Made phone calls to immediate project neighbors
- Responded to questions and concerns submitted to the project inbox and phone line
- Provided project information at neighborhood events
Materials
- Construction Notice (September 2019)
- Mailer (September 2019)
- Factsheet
- Aloha St Factsheet
- Value Engineering (VE) study factsheet
- Open House displays (11/10/2015)
- Determination of Non-Significance
- State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklist
- SEPA Appendix A : Biological Assessment; Geology and Soils technical memo (31 MB)
- SEPA Appendix B : Cultural Resources (redacted); Noise and Vibration; Type, Size and Location (32 MB)
- SEPA Appendix C : Hazardous Materials discipline report (28 MB)
- Appendix D : Alternative Analysis discipline report; Construction Methods technical memo; Environmental Justice & Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 discipline report; Navigation evaluation; Parking Availability study; Traffic Analysis report; Traffic Analysis report supplement: bus detour analysis; Vegetation, Fish and Wildlife technical memo; Vessel Allision Loads analysis; Water Resources technical memo; Wave Loads analysis (24 MB)