Northbound drivers on Seattle's SR 99 First Avenue South bridge hit a hard stop this afternoon when the span jammed in the open position, freezing traffic over the Duwamish River and backing cars up for miles. The glitch is tying up commutes in and out of South Seattle and SeaTac, with no clear word yet on when the bridge will drop and traffic will start rolling again.
UPDATE: The NB SR 99 First Ave Bridge in Seattle remains stuck in the open position. We are seeing residual backups of nearly three miles on SR 509. Maintenance crews are onsite troubleshooting. There is no estimate on when the bridge will reopen. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/M7i5QNBf1V
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdottraffic) April 8, 2026
WSDOT Traffic Posts Update
According to WSDOT Traffic, the northbound First Avenue span "remains stuck in the open position" as maintenance teams work through a mechanical problem. The agency reports residual backups of nearly three miles on SR 509 and says there is still no estimate for when the bridge will be closed and reopened to traffic.
Traffic Impact and Alternatives
The stalled drawbridge is rippling through the evening drive, with heavier-than-normal delays showing up on routes feeding downtown Seattle and the airport corridor. During the bridge's March stabilization work, local coverage advised drivers to hop over to I-5 or I-405 to dodge SR 99 congestion, guidance that may be useful again today, as noted by FOX 13 Seattle.
Background on Repairs
The northbound side of the First Avenue South bridge has been on the watch list since February, when inspectors discovered cracked steel grate panels in the deck. That triggered emergency temporary repairs in March and a plan to swap out the worst panels in mid-to-late April. Earlier shutdowns tied to this work were detailed in Cracked Deck Puts Squeeze, while WSDOT laid out a phased strategy to stabilize the deck and install replacement panels before the height of summer travel.
What To Watch
This story will be updated as officials release a firm reopening time and any formal detour details. Until then, travelers are urged to lean on live traffic tools and local news updates, build extra time into their trips, and be ready to reroute if their plans take them anywhere near the First Avenue South crossing.
