WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) secured $2,000,000 as part of the INVEST in America Act for the Duwamish River Bridge grid deck replacement.

“The State Route 99 Duwamish River Bridge is a vital lifeline in the city of Seattle,” said Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Roger Millar. “I appreciate Representative Smith’s support to invest in transportation infrastructure that is essential for a strong local economy while keeping our bridges and roadways safe and reliable. Our maintenance crews have worked tirelessly to keep the steel deck together, making emergency repairs to weld worn portions until panel replacements are funded. This much needed investment will help us keep this structure safe and reliable for the people who depend on it each day.”

This project will replace the Duwamish River Bridge grid deck, which has reached the end of service life. A typical bridge grid deck has 20 years of service life and this deck was built in 1996. The grid deck has many interim temporary repairs and deterioration is accelerating rapidly, increasing the need for costly emergency repairs. SR 99 is a T1 Freight route carrying 13.5 million tons of freight annually. Currently, the West Seattle Bridge is closed to traffic causing traffic to detour onto this structure, which is also adding to the acceleration of deterioration. Replacing the failing panels will provide a more solid driving surface with better skid resistance thereby reducing the potential of collisions. The project will also reduce or eliminate expensive emergency repairs which have detrimental impacts on freight mobility and safety in the corridor.

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