Supporting an electric future: University Bridge Trolley Pole Replacement Project

This blog post is also available in: Español (Spanish)

King County Metro is preparing to replace the poles and the foundations that support the electric trolleys operating on the historic University Bridge.

The work is scheduled to begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2027. Metro is coordinating closely with the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) RapidRide J Line and Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Revive I-5 Ship Canal Bridge projects to minimize impacts during this project.

The 30 King County-owned poles on the bridge, and the foundations that support them, are reaching the end of their useful life. They are being replaced to improve lighting and support reliable ongoing trolley service. Once this project is complete, the new trolley infrastructure will allow Metro to continue providing reliable, emission-free transit service between Capitol Hill, Eastlake, and the University District. This work will also support the upgrade of the current Route 70 to the future RapidRide J Line.

Street view panorama of Route 70 using the trolley overhead wire on the University Bridge (map © Google 2026)

History of trolleys crossing the bridge

The first span connecting Lake Union and Portage Bay was built in 1919 and rebuilt in 1933. Electric trolleys have been operating in the region for 80 years and routes from Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle have used trolleys to cross the University Bridge. Between 2014 and 2018, two strained poles were replaced by SDOT. An evaluation on the remaining poles revealed that the remaining 30 poles needed to be replaced.

Example of a pole and foundation SDOT replaced in 2018

Replacing poles and infrastructure

Along with replacing the poles and foundations, the project will also:

Replace electrical trolley wires and parts
Replace the electrical cables and fuses at each pole location to operate street lights
Replace all street and pedestrian light fixtures

The project’s timeline will overlap with WSDOT’s Revive I-5 Ship Canal Bridge project and SDOT’s RapidRide J Line project. The trolley bus system will support the future RapidRide J Line, with the addition of two new poles at the north end of the bridge. King County Metro is working closely with SDOT and WSDOT to ensure strong communication and coordination throughout this work.

Diagram of the University Bridge with an example of the trolley poles to be replaced and 2 new poles to be added

What to expect during construction

The bridge will remain open during the project, with one lane of traffic available in each direction at all times. Drivers and riders should be prepared for: