During an in-depth inspection of the SR 99 George Washington Bridge, Washington State Department of Transportation bridge inspectors found advanced deterioration of steel on this stringer. Stringers are the giant steel beams that run parallel to the lanes of traffic. While the bridge is safe for travel, the southbound lane above this area is closed out of an abundance of caution.
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This diagram shows the exact location of the stringer, or beam, in need of emergency repairs. It is under the far-right southbound lane on the northern end of the SR 99 bridge over Lake Union. The lane directly over the stringer is closed until a repair can be made. Not repairing this stringer will put more of the travel load onto nearby steel beams, and could accelerate their wear.
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This photograph, taken by one of WSDOT's highly skilled bridge inspectors, shows a 4-inch crack at the end of the stringer noted in the diagram. While the right southbound lane remains closed, travelers should expect delays and consider taking alternative routes, using public transit, walking or biking. The walkways remain open on the bridge.
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The area in need of repair is over the water, so our bridge engineers are designing a plan to safely access the underside of the bridge while safely keeping as many lanes open as possible.
Until this plan is in place, the right lane of the southbound State Route 99 Aurora bridge will remain closed around-the-clock as a precautionary step.
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Wednesday, Oct. 30: Our UBIT - Under Bridge Inspection Truck - is now in place in the southbound lanes of the SR 99 Aurora bridge over Lake Union in Seattle. In the next 48 hours, contractor crews expect to begin repairing the damaged stringer (large steel beam) that runs under the far right southbound lane.
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