This version of the Elliott Bridge has spanned the Cedar River for 90 years. Construction will begin soon on a replacement bridge (acrobat .pdf file, 344KB ).

Preparation for the replacement of the Elliott Bridge begins this week, with clearing in the corridor where a new bridge will be built over the Cedar River at the west end of Jones Road.

The Elliott Bridge was originally built in 1913. It has been patched, repaired and upgraded over the past 90 years, but time has finally caught up with the span.

Deficiencies of the existing bridge include severe corrosion of the steel structure, narrow lanes, low-overhead vehicle clearance, insufficient-load capacity to carry heavy trucks, and high-maintenance costs. The bridge is at the end of its useful life. An independent analysis confirmed that the bridge cannot be rehabilitated; it must be replaced.

During the next 18 months, a new bridge will be built just upstream from the existing one. The replacement bridge will provide wider travel lanes and shoulders for safer access by vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The new structure will also provide increased sight distances on the bridge and its approaches.

The current bridge connects Jones Road on the north side of the river with the intersection of 149th Avenue Southeast and State Route 169 (Renton-Maple Valley Road). The new bridge will be located approximately 1,000 feet further upstream, creating a direct connection with 154th Place Southeast – a minor arterial – and SR 169. To make that connection, the county will be constructing about 700 feet of new roadway (152 nd Avenue Southeast), along with the 400-foot bridge.

For the next three weeks, the Road Services Division's maintenance unit is clearing in the area to create the corridor that will link the new bridge to the state highway. The clearing will allow King County's contractor to install two piers before the seasonal salmon migration and spawning begin.

Once the piers are in, the contractor will work on other parts of the new crossing and new road to avoid the river area during the salmon season. The county is also restricted on when the contractor can work over the water.

The existing bridge is expected to remain open to traffic during most of the construction period.

Elliott Bridge, designated as a lifeline route for emergency response, provides the only north/south crossing of the river from SR-169 between Interstate 405 on the west and the Cedar Mountain Bridge on Jones Road. More than 14,000 drivers use the bridge each day. The current total project cost is estimated at $17.5 million.

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