West Seattle residents reflect on 2.5 bridge-less years

The day is finally approaching that people in West Seattle – and those who want to get to West Seattle – have been waiting for. After more than two and a half years, the West Seattle Bridge reopens this Sunday.

The Seattle Department of Transportation closed the bridge, which serves as primary route into and out of West Seattle, in March of 2020 because of structural damage.

If you don't have access to the lower bridge, a trip via car from downtown Seattle to Alaska Junction right now, without the bridge, takes about 20 to 45 minutes. On Sunday, when the bridge reopens, that trip might take just 12 minutes with no traffic (of course, that's a big if).

The bridge closure has affected residents, businesses, travelers, pretty much everyone who lives in or moves through West Seattle.

"There's already a psychological divide between the city and West Seattle. And that divide just really expanded both for myself and other people who tend to be visitors to West Seattle," said West Seattle resident Gina Coffman.

For those living near the detour route around the bridge, there's been an influx of cars and an increase in traffic.

"It's meant that there's been a lot more air pollution, and a lot more unsafe conditions for those who live in the Duwamish Valley," said Erica Bush, a leader of Duwamish Valley Safe Streets.

Elijah Brooks, a book buyer at Pegasus Books, says that it isn't clear whether the bridge opening will make that much difference when it comes to customers.

"People talk about it all the time like, 'Oh, I never get out of West Seattle because the bridge isn't there,' but I wonder if it'll actually make that big of a difference," Brooks said.

Brooks is looking forward to how a more connected neighborhood could make hiring easier.

Whatever their reaction, West Seattle residents will be given some sense of normalcy when the bridge re-opens.

"It's not like we're getting something brand new," said Tracy Record, editor of the West Seattle Blog. "We're just getting back what has been missing for two and a half years."