Project Complete
This project was completed in 2024.
McGraw St Bridge Seismic Project
Updated: September 27, 2024
What's happening now?
We’ve completed work on seismic retrofits to help the McGraw St Bridge better withstand earthquakes! The bridge has been reopened for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving. Over the past 9 months, we:
- Installed carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge's crossbeams, columns, and arches
- Strengthened the existing arch with a concrete infill wall
- Installed concrete blocks and supportive shells for the bridge's columns and crossbeams
- Repaired cracks and damaged concrete
- Replaced the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge
Thank you for helping us improve the resiliency of the McGraw St Bridge! If you have any remaining questions or concerns about the McGraw St Bridge Seismic project, please contact us at 206-684-ROAD (7623) or 684-Road@seattle.gov.
Project Overview
Earthquakes could have a major impact on Seattle's bridges. To address this risk, the City of Seattle established a bridge seismic program to assess how vulnerable the City's bridges were to earthquakes, and reinforce bridges to better withstand the potential impacts of an earthquake.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic reinforcement, including the McGraw St Bridge. The McGraw St Bridge is located in the Queen Anne neighborhood, between 2nd Ave N and Nob Hill Ave N. It is an older bridge constructed in 1936 and does not meet current seismic design standards for bridges. The bridge spans the Wolf Creek Ravine Natural Area, and it is used by people driving, biking, walking, and rolling.
The seismic retrofits to the McGraw St Bridge included several modifications to the existing bridge components to make the bridge less vulnerable in the event of an earthquake. The following were major construction elements:
- Installed carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge's crossbeams, columns, and arches
- Strengtheneds the existing arch with a concrete infill wall
- Installed concrete blocks and supportive shells for the bridge's columns and crossbeams
- Repaired cracks and damaged concrete Replaced the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge
Schedule
| 30% Design | Complete |
| 60% Design | Complete |
| 90% Design | Complete |
| Construction begins | January 2024 |
| Retrofit complete | September 2024 |
Funding
The total project estimate was $7.5 million, and it was 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.
Materials
- Project factsheet (January 2024)
- Frequently Asked Questions (January 2024)
Translation and interpretation
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