Capitol Way pedestrian bridge undergoing $1.2M rehabilitation

One of the most visible features of the Washington State Capitol Campus has been dismantled this summer. 

The pedestrian walking bridge over Capitol Way, which connects the East and West Capitol campuses, has been removed piece by piece for repairs.

The iconic pedestrian bridge might be known more for the community informational signs that hang from it each season, but it is a main arterial connecting the main Capitol Campus with the office buildings and Korean War Memorial on the East Campus.

The pedestrian walking bridge was built in 1971. The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) has been tasked through the State Capital Budget to disassemble, repair, and reassemble the pedestrian bridge.

The project is a $1.2 million structural overhaul aimed at dealing with escalating safety risks for thousands of daily foot commuters and drivers below.

Decades of moisture, salt

The bridge has suffered cumulative damage from half a century of Pacific Northwest rain and harsh winter maintenance routines. According to public records from the DES, leaky expansion joints on the bridge deck have consistently allowed water to seep into internal components, cracking and eroding the surrounding concrete while eating away at embedded steel rebar.

On-site construction personnel report that the visual damage on top reflects a much deeper structural concern hidden beneath the deck.

“The main reason for the repair is corrosion of the girder seats," said an on-site worker.

Girder seats are vital load-bearing connection points where horizontal beams rest on vertical supports. The bridge appears to be one piece when it is connected and performing its duty, but it is made up of many pieces connected together.

Decades of rainwater mixed with harsh winter deicing solutions drained directly into the structural pockets, accelerating rust and compromising the critical metal assemblies holding the bridge elevated.

Repair work

To remedy the issue, DES contracted a specialized project team to execute a multi-step rehabilitation program. Crews are systematically removing sections of the bridge structure to gain access to damaged internal components, repairing and replacing degraded structural steel and internal rebar, and reinstalling the refurbished segments. Finally, a high-grade protective weather coating will be applied across the structure to prevent future water and chemical intrusion.

Funding for the project comes from the 2025–27 state capital budget.

Traffic impacts

Work on the span began on Aug. 10 and is scheduled to wrap up in late October. Pedestrian access across Capitol Way remains cut off through Oct. 9, while drivers along Capitol Way face single-lane closures in both directions through mid-October.

To safely dismantle and lift the bridge segments using heavy machinery, officials plan overnight, full closures of Capitol Way on Oct. 2–3.