Major construction work to retrofit the North 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge across Aurora Ave North is expected to be complete by April 2025. Construction crews have reinforced the bridge’s footing, installed carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen its towers and piers, and replaced damaged concrete including nearby sidewalks and curb ramps.   

The photo above shows crews working on seismic retrofit for the N 41st St Pedestrian Bridge, earlier this month (SDOT). 

Due to recent weather conditions, crews have been unable to paint the carbon fiber they installed to strengthen the bridge and finish minor restorations. Once the crews are able to complete this work, we’ll remove the traffic control measures in place. Full project completion is expected by spring 2025. 

Safety Reminders

• Street Closure: N 41st Street is closed between Linden Ave N and Whitman Ave N until construction is complete. This closure ensures safety for everyone traveling and allows crews to work as efficiently as possible.
• Lane and Sidewalk Closures: Sidewalks, crosswalks, and one bus lane on Aurora Ave N (either northbound or southbound depending on where work is occurring) will be temporarily closed at times to safely divert people walking, rolling, biking, and driving away from where work is occurring. Please follow all detour signs in place.  

Project Overview

Earthquakes could have a major impact on Seattle’s infrastructure. To address seismic risks to city infrastructure, the City of Seattle established a bridge seismic program to assess how vulnerable the City’s bridges were to earthquakes, and to reinforce bridges to better withstand the potential impacts of an earthquake. 

As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, 16 bridges were selected for seismic reinforcements, including the N 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge. The N 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge is an older bridge constructed in 1936 and provides a more direct connection across Aurora Avenue for the north Fremont neighborhood.  

The photo above shows the N 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge over Aurora Ave N before planned seismic retrofit improvements (Google Street view).

We’re not changing the current use and operation of the bridge. The N 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge seismic retrofit will strengthen existing bridge components and reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Major construction work includes: 

• Retrofitting the bridge’s footing.
• Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge’s towers.
• Repairing cracks and damaged concrete.
• Replacing bolts throughout the bridge.
• Replacement of impacted concrete panels and curb ramps