Heads up for drivers who take the West Seattle Bridge: there are several nights of overnight closures for the next week.
This is to repair around 80 streetlights that have been dark since June after a major copper wire theft along the bridge and Spokane Viaduct.
Gary Ernsdorff with the King County Prosecutor’s Office said 47-year-old Gary Wayne Galitzeck was caught red-handed walking down the bridge.
“A thief was interrupted on the West Seattle Bridge wearing what looks like a Seattle City Light vest and stole about $1,000 in copper, which resulted in a blackout on the bridge,” Ernsdorff said.
That crime happened in June. Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney, said he was charged with malicious mischief, criminal impersonation, and theft.
“This is an issue that’s been plaguing us in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s an issue that’s plaguing businesses, homeowners, utilities like Seattle City Light, and we are all feeling the impact of these multimillion-dollar thefts,” Manion said.
The King County Sheriff’s Office said this isn’t uncommon. In 2025, they investigated 241 copper wire theft cases.
“They happen in the middle of the night, they’re low-level, and once the thieves are gone it’s hard to distinguish the material that’s been stolen, like how can you identify copper wire or some form of scrap metal,” Ernsdorff said.
Crews started work this week to get the lights back on across the West Seattle Bridge.
Those repair dates are from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Monday-Thursday until October 15 in various lanes and on/off ramps.
- Monday, Oct. 5 - Complete closure of the NB 1st Ave S off-ramp from the West Seattle Freeway WB. On-ramp also closed from the 1st Ave S approach from S Horton St.
- Tuesday, Oct. 6 - Complete closure of the Harbor Island WB ramp from the West Seattle Freeway WB. Right lane closed approaching the ramp to detour traffic. Right lane closure of the WB West Seattle Freeway from Harbor Ave SW off-ramp to the SR 99 on-ramp.
- Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Complete closure of the West Seattle Freeway WB ramp from SR 99 SB. Right lane closure of the WB West Seattle Freeway (High Rise) from the SR 99 on-ramp to the Harbor Avenue SW off-ramp.
- Thursday, Oct. 8 - Complete closure of the Harbor Island WB ramp from SR 99. Right lane closure of the WB West Seattle Freeway (High Rise) from the SR 99 on-ramp to the Harbor Avenue SW off-ramp.
- Monday, Oct. 12 – Right lane closure of the WB West Seattle Freeway (High Rise) from the SR 99 on-ramp to the Harbor Avenue SW off-ramp. Right lane closure of the EB West Seattle Freeway (High Rise) from the Delridge Way SW on-ramp to the SR 99 NB on-ramp.
- Tuesday, Oct. 13 - Right lane closure of the EB West Seattle Freeway (High Rise) from the Delridge Way SW on-ramp to the SR 99 NB on-ramp. Complete closure of the NB SR 99 ramp from the West Seattle Freeway EB. Right two lanes closed approaching the ramp to detour traffic.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14 - Complete closure of the NB SR 99 ramp from the West Seattle Freeway EB. Right two lanes closed approaching the ramp to detour traffic. Right lane closure of the EB West Seattle Freeway lower deck from 1st Avenue South ramp to the 4th Avenue South ramp.
- Thursday, Oct. 15 - Right lane closure of the EB West Seattle Freeway lower deck from 1st Avenue South ramp to the 4th Avenue South ramp.
Seattle City Light says they are implementing reinforced junction box covers, tamper-proof lids, and welded access doors to prevent this from happening again in the future.