Lights on West Seattle Bridge are out after another copper wire theft

Copper wire thieves have again killed the lights on the West Seattle Bridge.

After a report came in June 4, Seattle City Light crews found that copper wires had been cut and stripped from panels along the bridge structure, said spokesperson Julie Moore.

The damage appears "extensive, with about 100 lights out with no estimate for their restoration.

Lights are out at spots including those between Harbor Island and First Avenue South, on both sides of the bridge, as well as some offramps.

There may be a need for reengineering in some locations, which means repairs may take more time, Moore said.

Lanes will need to be closed while crews assess needed repairs, so City Light is working with the Seattle Department of Transportation on a traffic control plan.

The utility is also working with law enforcement to investigate the theft as a crime, Moore said. City Light doesn't have cameras in public places that could have captured the incident on video.

Copper wire thieves plunged the West Seattle Bridge into darkness in September, causing 71 streetlights on the high-rise bridge and 15 on the swing bridge to go out. They broke into other components, including a large utility cabinet and underground vaults or conduits.

It was days before the lights were restored that time around. City Light said at the time that prolonged construction would be needed to tamper-proof the system.

City Light installed ecology blocks in front of and over electrical facilities to prevent theft and welded or replaced handhole lids with tamper-proof lids in line with other locations, Moore said, but that was on the surface street electrical infrastructure. This incident involved electrical facilities on the bridge structure itself.

Sound Transit's light rail has also been a frequent victim of copper wire theft, alongside Washington state freeways and utility poles.

Seattle Times transportation reporter Mike Lindblom contributed to this report.

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