Notice from King County:

The King County Road Services Division will close the South Park Bridge over the Duwamish River on 14th/16th Avenue South this Saturday, Aug. 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for repairs. The bridge will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic and to large marine vessels on the water.

In recent years, the 78-year-old drawbridge has become more difficult to operate due to long-term movement of the bridge piers. During the closure, crews will realign metal teeth that allow the bridge to open and close. The misalignment has the potential to hinder bridge operation if left unchecked. Motorists can detour via the First Avenue South Bridge.

Studies of the South Park Bridge show that the condition of the span continues to deteriorate. The span scores just four points on the Federal Highway Administration’s 100-point sufficiency rating scale (the Alaskan Way Viaduct received nine points), making it the second most deficient structure in King County and the most deficient structure in the state of Washington of bridges handling over 8,000 vehicles per day.

King County is expected to complete the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process shortly. Design of the new bridge will be completed later this year. The crossing is used by approximately 20,000 vehicles a day.