The Montlake Boulevard East Bridge is a historic bridge retrofit found in the scenic environment of Seattle, Washington. Spanning a total area of 8,458 square feet, the bridge primarily services traffic going to and from the University of Washington. A galvanized open grid bridge deck was adopted due to its lighter deck weight, which does not impose excessive deck deadload on the aging structure, allowing heavier traffic to utilize the bridge.

Bolt down plates were shop-welded to the bottom of the grid deck panels with shop-drilled holes positioned to align with existing holes in the structural steel. This minimized the need for new holes in the existing support steel flanges, thereby preserving their strength and rigidity.

Deck installation was conducted in phases during off-peak hours to minimize traffic rerouting, including the public bus transit line utilized by university students and staff. This commitment to minimizing disruption highlights Frontier Gratings’ attention to stakeholder needs and project-specific challenges. This successful project further solidifies our dedication to providing tailored solutions while preserving structural integrity and minimizing impact on daily operations.