W Dravus St Bridge Planning Study
Updated September 2026
What's Happening Now?
We are in the early stages of the W Dravus St Bridge Planning Study. We are collecting and reviewing data to help us understand the bridge’s current condition and study the best options. This includes conducting traffic counts and other fieldwork. We are also preparing to host a virtual public meeting and collect community feedback through a survey. These activities will help us develop initial options for repairing or replacing the bridge.
Project Overview
The W Dravus St Bridge Planning Study will help the City of Seattle (City) evaluate options for repairing or replacing the bridge and identify a preferred alternative.
Built in 1935, the W Dravus St Bridge connects the Magnolia, Interbay, and Queen Anne neighborhoods by crossing BNSF Railway’s Balmer Yard. More than 21,000 vehicles use the bridge each day, along with people walking, biking, and rolling. The City owns the bridge and shares maintenance responsibilities with BNSF. While we’ve repaired and retrofitted the W Dravus St Bridge over the years, it is now over 90 years old. It needs long-term investments to remain safe, reliable, and useful for future generations.
Benefits of this planning study include:
- Proposing a safer, stronger, and more resilient bridge for everyone: We will identify improvements to help prevent costly emergency repairs and keep the bridge reliable.
- Prioritizing connectivity between Magnolia, Interbay, and Queen Anne: The study will explore ways to help people travel between these neighborhoods for years to come.
- Preparing for the future: We will prepare to upgrade the bridge to meet today's safety, earthquake, and transportation standards. Our plans will also consider future infrastructure projects in the area, including the planned Interbay Link Station.
- Using community feedback to shape the project: We are listening to people who use the bridge every day.
Project Area
Project Schedule
Fall 2026
- Develop alternatives
Winter 2026/2027
- Select alternatives to study in more depth
Spring 2027
- Refine bridge alternatives down to three options
Summer 2027
- Select preferred alternative
Frequently Asked Questions
The W Dravus St Bridge is more than 90 years old. While we've repaired and strengthened it over the years, it will need significant long-term investment to remain safe and reliable. This study will help determine the best approach for the bridge's future.
Yes. The W Dravus St Bridge is open and in service.
No. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a range of repair and replacement options. Community feedback, construction impacts, costs, safety, future needs, and other factors will help inform the study’s recommendation for a preferred alternative.
The study will evaluate both repair and replacement alternatives for the bridge. Our team will develop and revise different options throughout the study.
The project team will evaluate options and gather community feedback first. We expect to identify and recommend a preferred alternative in spring 2027.
The W Dravus St Bridge Planning Study draws on feedback from other bridge studies. This includes the Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation System Study. We'll also create new opportunities for people to share their ideas. Community feedback will help us understand how people use the W Dravus St Bridge and how they would like to use it in the future. We'll discover what matters most, and what questions or concerns people have. The study will consider feedback and other factors.
No. This planning study will identify and recommend a preferred alternative. Construction would occur in future phases.
Nearby Projects
- Ballard Link Extension Project – Sound Transit
- Magnolia Elevated Tank Rehabilitation and Improvements Project – Seattle Public Utilities
- Magnolia Bridge Planning Study - SDOT
Funding
This project is funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy, which invests in maintaining and improving Seattle's transportation system. Learn more at seattle.gov/transportation/levy.
Contact Information
Our team is committed to keeping the community informed throughout the project. If you have any questions about our work, please feel free to email DravusBridgePlanning@seattle.gov or call (206) 257-2155.
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