April 27, 2020
Councilmember Alex Pedersen
600 4th Avenue
2nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Dear Councilmember Pedersen:
& Utilities Committee, we appreciate your
steadfast commitment to helping the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) fulfill its
number one priority: preserving public safety.
This responsibility is what drives the beginning, middle, and end of each day at SDOT. Be it our
238 areaways, 613 retaining walls, 502 stairways, or 124 bridges, SDOT is responsible for
preserving public safety. We also have responsibilities relative to private structures in the public
right-of-way. Through careful management, SDOT maximize
transportation infrastructure, preserves existing facilities, manages capital improvements, and
maintains and operates these assets to provide a safe and reliable transportation system for the
traveling public.
While robust oversight of our bridges is already carried out by SDOT and our state and federal
partners, we rely on our close partnership with City Council for the resources needed to fulfill
this tall safety order. That is why we look forward to working with you, the Office of City
Auditor, and others, to help illuminate for the public and Council the physical conditions and
maintenance investments needed to ensure the safety and longevity of all of the roadway
structures owned by SDOT.
We also understand the impact of the March 23 emergency closure of the West Seattle High-Rise
Bridge continues to have on the city as a whole and on adjacent communities on both sides of the
Duwamish. While we continue to gather information necessary to understand what is happening,
from what we have been able to gather to date, the accelerated deterioration of the High-Rise

 Councilmember Alex Pedersen, April 27, 2020
RE: Response to CM Pedersen Bridge Audit, Page 2

Bridge has happened quickly and was caught because of the diligence of our existing inspection
approach and goes beyond the realm of regular maintenance.
We look forward to working with you, the Office of City Auditor, and others to ensure we all
build a stronger, more livable, and secure city of
the future right here in Seattle.
Sincerely,

Sam Zimbabwe
Director

Cc: Council President Lorena Gonzalez
Seattle City Council
Shefali Ranganathan, Deputy Mayor, City of Seattle
Anthony Auriemma, Council Liaison, Office of the Mayor
Elliot Helmbrecht, Office of Policy and Innovation
David Jones, City Auditor
Calvin Chow, Seattle City Council Central Staff