Project Complete
This project was completed in 2025.
Admiral Way North and South Bridges Seismic Retrofit
Updated September 2025
Retrofits to help the Admiral Way North and South Bridges better withstand earthquakes are complete!
Here’s what we’ve done to make the bridge stronger and less vulnerable in the event of an earthquake:
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Concrete Crack and Spall Repair: Throughout the bridge, crews have repaired concrete cracks and spalls. Concrete cracks and spalls can reduce bridge integrity and life span, fixing them is very important to keep the bridge in good condition.
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Carbon-Fiber Wrapping: After the concrete repair, we installed carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge’s crossbeams, columns, and piers. This lightweight composite material increases the strength and adds a protective layer to the bridge components, helping the bridge be more resilient in a seismic event.
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Installed and Replaced Components: As part of the seismic retrofit, crews strengthened the bridges by installing a shear key, retrofitting floor beams, and adding a concrete infill wall to reinforce the truss, making the bridge more resilient during a seismic event. They also replaced gusset plates and expansion joints, and added buckling-restrained braces to improve seismic performance. They strengthened the north deck with a continuous reinforced concrete chord to better withstand lateral rotation during earthquakes.
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Corrosion Repair and Prevention: Crews repaired corrosion damage on support structures under the bridge and painted the steel components of the bridge to reduce further corrosion damage.
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Slope Strengthening and Stabilization: Crews installed drilled shafts at both ends of the bridge and soil nails on the slopes below the bridge to make slope more secure. This improvement will strengthen the bridge’s resiliency to seismic events like earthquakes. During this slope stabilization work, our crews also installed new landscaping.
Caption: We’ve strengthened the bridge by reinforcing its columns, stabilized the slope, and improved the surrounding landscape for long-term resilience.
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 Admiral Way North and South Bridges. The Admiral Way North and South Bridges are older bridges built prior to modernizing the seismic design code.
The bridges are on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, above Fairmont Ave SW. While it seems like one bridge when you’re traveling on it, the Admiral Way North and South Bridges are actually two bridges, side-by-side. Both were retrofitted, making them stronger and safer in the event of an earthquake.
Project Area
The bridges are on SW Admiral Way between 39th Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW, above Fairmont Ave SW.
Project Schedule
Design | Complete |
Construction | Complete |
Project Completion | Summer 2025 |
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. In addition, this project has received federal funding.
Project Materials
- Admiral Way Fact Sheet (2024)
Translation and interpretation
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