McGilvra Blvd E Bridge Seismic Retrofit
Updated May 28, 2025
What's Happening Now?
Roadway restoration work on the McGilvra Blvd E Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project is nearly complete! The street is now open to traffic, as crews have finished paving the bridge deck.
Improvements and repair work to the existing bridge to help it better withstand earthquakes was completed in fall 2024.
The photo above shows freshly repaved McGilvra Blvd E Bridge deck (May 2025, SDOT).
Here’s what we’ve done this year as part of our restoration and closing activities:
- Paved the road and replaced deck joints: We removed the old asphalt from a portion of the bridge that wasn’t repaved last year, then repaved the entire bridge surface and replaced the joints between sections of the deck. This will make the road smoother and help the bridge last longer.
- Fixed concrete spalling under the bridge: We repaired areas where the concrete underneath the bridge was damaged, exposing steel bars. These repairs will prevent rust corrosion and stop cracks from spreading to help keep the bridge strong over time.
- Removed an old support beam: We removed an old beam that is no longer a part of the bridge structure
What's left to do:
In the coming weeks, crews will:
- Finish working on adding a security fence for access below the bridge deck in the event of any future maintenance needs
- Finish painting lines on the roadway in early June.
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 the project includes:
- 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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