The emergency stabilization of the 36-year-old West Seattle Bridge reached a new milestone after external post-tensioning and the release of a damaged Pier 18 bearing was completed Nov. 10, allowing crews to move toward wrapping girders in carbon fiber. The Seattle Dept. of Transportation closed the bridge in March due to cracks. Kraemer North America was hired under an emergency contract to stabilize the structure. WSP provided the engineering. Before the bulging and damaged bearing at Pier 18 could be released, Kraemer added external post-tensioning to support the existing internal post-tensioning system. The new strands run along the bottom of the girder interiors between post-tensioning brackets and through deviator blocks to help stabilize the bridge.