Seattle’s Worst Bridges are Part of $1.8-Billion Maintenance Backlog

The single most salient factor in a low rating, in Seattle, is age. 62 bridges are more than 60 years old, with a replacement cost that SDOT estimates at $1.5 billion. Another 20 middle-aged bridges are running short on time as well. But since 2007, the bridge maintenance budget — inadequate to begin with — has plunged by more than $400 million.