Thieves hit the SR 520 Montlake Project early Thursday, slicing out and hauling off hundreds of feet of copper wiring and leaving lights and signs across the work site, and on the new bike-and-pedestrian bridge, in the dark. WSDOT crews quickly swapped in some replacement lines and have been working with Seattle City Light to get the rest of the system back online. The hit is part of a broader regional surge in copper thefts that have been knocking out transit and utility services, and officials warn the damage is expensive, slow to repair, and a real safety concern for people using darkened trails after sunset.
In a news release, the Washington State Department of Transportation said thieves made off with “hundreds of feet” of essential wiring from Montlake Project facilities, disrupting signing and lighting, including on the bike and pedestrian bridge, according to KIRO 7. The agency said crews have already replaced part of the wiring and are coordinating with Seattle City Light to finish the repairs.
Project officials are asking anyone who spotted suspicious activity in the area to call 911, then follow up with tips to the SR 520 project inbox or the 24-hour construction hotline. Per WSDOT, the project inbox is [email protected] and the hotline number is 206-319-4520. Crews say they will stay on site until all systems are fully restored.
Why thieves are targeting copper
Prosecutors and utility officials point to rising metal prices and easy resale as the main fuel behind the spike. Gary Ernsdorff, a senior deputy with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told KIRO 7 that “one of the things we’ve seen recently is a rise in copper prices,” and that thieves are hunting for chances to cash in. Offenders often cut long stretches of communications wire, sometimes as much as a half-mile at a time, to strip out the copper, leaving neighborhoods without critical services.
Transit and utilities feeling the strain
The wave of thefts has triggered emergency repairs and service interruptions across the Puget Sound region. Copper thefts have recently shut down segments of Link light rail and forced urgent repair crews into action during high-ridership events, according to FOX 13 Seattle. Officials also note that while thieves may walk away with only a few thousand dollars, the resulting infrastructure damage can be costly and lead to outages that stretch on for weeks, as reported by Yahoo News.
Officials press for tougher tools
Lawmakers have introduced House Bill 2213 in the 2026 session to tighten scrap-metal transaction rules, require more detailed recordkeeping, and give law enforcement new tools to track and seize suspected stolen metal, according to the bill summary from the Washington State Legislature. HB 2213 would increase documentation requirements for recyclers and create a searchable database to help investigators identify stolen materials. Agencies including WSDOT say they are coordinating repairs and investigations while urging the public to report suspicious activity so crews can restore systems more quickly.
Investigators have not reported any arrests tied to the Montlake theft so far. WSDOT says crews will remain on site and again urged anyone with information to call 911 or the SR 520 hotline so police can follow up.
