Traffic Lab

The city of Seattle says the West Seattle Bridge won’t reopen this year or next. The bridge was closed this spring to repair cracks, but engineers say the repairs involve more work than was anticipated. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times) — The city of Seattle says the West Seattle Bridge, seen at left, won't reopen this year or next. This view shows the bridge high rise as you exit to the lower bridge traveling west from Interstate 5 on Wednesday, April 15. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times)

West Seattle Bridge will stay closed until at least 2022

The bridge is the city's busiest span, carrying 100,000 vehicles and 25,000 transit riders daily, on average, before the coronavirus outbreak dramatically cut traffic.

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The usually busy route 40 bus is empty near Pine Street and 3rd Avenue during rush hour on Thursday as downtown Seattle streets and buses become quieter and less packed.

Time stamp: 4:31 p.m.

On Thursday, March 12, 2020. 213326

Sound Transit, Metro facing big drops in funding as coronavirus downturn takes hold

Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association executive director Ahmed Mumin phones other drivers during an Uber and Lyft protest on Fourth Avenue outside City Hall on Friday March 13, 2020.

Full-time drivers say income has dropped from around $200 a day to about $35 a day, for 14-hour days. 213337

Seattle Uber, Lyft drivers say their earnings are plummeting amid the coronavirus outbreak, and there’s little help in sight

Craig Davenport, president of the MZA Architecture firm in Bellevue, works from home during the coronavirus outbreak. He typically commutes from Mukilteo and had been resistant to allowing employees to telework, but is adjusting out of necessity.

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About Traffic Lab

Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues, spotlights promising approaches to easing gridlock, and helps readers find the best ways to get around.

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Transit

Signs at a ticket kiosk at the Tukwila International Blvd. light rail station are seen Monday, April 27, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic is dealing a serious blow to bus and light-rail transit, and recovery could take even longer than after the 2008 Great Recession when agencies cut back service and raised fares to balance the budgets. 213791

Local transit systems make slow return to charging fares as coronavirus restrictions ease

Roads

The West Seattle Bridge, left, connecting West Seattle to Seattle, was closed in March 2020 after cracks were discovered underneath and along the sides of the high-rise making travel across the structure unsafe. The bridge is 36-years-old. The low bridge at right is reserved for transit, freight, emergency response, and Harbor Island access.

Photographed on April 29, 2020. 213802

WATCH: Seattle Times reporters answer your questions about the West Seattle Bridge WATCH

Getting Around

Pedestrians walk down 46th Avenue South in Rainier Valley on Saturday where several stretches of roadway are closed to vehicle traffic between South Holly Street and South Barton Place to create space for pedestrians and bicyclists.

On Saturday, April 25, 2020. 213773