West Seattle Bridge Ramp Closures Have Begun

Seattle City Light is closing bridge ramps for eight nights to repair streetlights damaged by copper wire theft.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a bridge pylon silhouette against a dark background, reflecting urban infrastructure maintenance. — Seattle City Light has begun eight nights of bridge ramp closures to repair streetlights on the West Seattle Bridge damaged by copper wire theft. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Seattle City Light has initiated a series of nighttime ramp closures on the West Seattle Bridge to facilitate the repair of 80 streetlights. The infrastructure went dark following extensive copper wire theft in the area.

Why it matters

The closures are necessary to ensure the safety of both the public and repair crews during the restoration process. The project aims to restore visibility along the transit route and implement new security measures.

Seattle City Light is repairing 80 streetlights damaged by theft, with work scheduled during nightly closures from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Repairs involve installing reinforced junction box covers and tamper-proof lids.

The players

Seattle City Light

This is the publicly owned electric utility that provides power and maintains street lighting infrastructure for the city of Seattle.

The details

The repair project involves crews working overnight to restore streetlights along the Spokane Street Viaduct, Harbor Island, and SR 99 areas. Each nightly closure follows an approved traffic control plan to minimize disruption while safeguarding workers.

Repair work and closures began on October 5, 2026.
Repairs are scheduled to finish on October 15, 2026.

Legal Context

This project follows a growing trend of municipal infrastructure damage caused by copper wire theft that has forced cities to invest in anti-theft hardware. Seattle is responding to this issue by installing reinforced covers and tamper-proof lids to secure its assets.

Drivers in Seattle should expect ramp closures on the West Seattle Bridge and associated routes between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. for the duration of the project. Motorists should plan for potential detours during these overnight hours until the work concludes.

The takeaway

The city is prioritizing the restoration of critical transit lighting while moving toward theft-resistant hardware to prevent future outages. Residents should remain alert to traffic changes during the overnight work period through October 15.