Capitol Campus Pedestrian Bridge to Reopen

November 14, 2024

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OLYMPIA - The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Capitol Campus Pedestrian Bridge on Monday, Nov. 18. The bridge crosses Capitol Way and connects the east and west halves of the Capitol Campus.

The pedestrian bridge was closed shortly after the 2023 legislative session as work on the Newhouse Replacement Project got underway. The original Irving R. Newhouse Building (Newhouse) was demolished in the spring of 2023. Construction of the replacement building began later that summer. It will be fully occupied by Jan. 2025.

While the building is nearing completion, there is still work happening in and around the building as crews finish up landscaping and punch list items. Because of this, people entering and leaving the West Campus via the bridge should be aware that there are still restricted areas in the parking lot and around the building. Restricted areas are clearly marked.

Legislative Campus Modernization

The Newhouse Replacement Project is the first major phase of Legislative Campus Modernization (LCM). Built as a temporary structure in 1934, the original building had significant functional, health and life safety hazards and had to be replaced. The new building is net zero ready and is on track to receive at least silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating marking a building as environmentally responsible and resource efficient. The second phase of LCM is the Pritchard Renovation and Expansion Project which is currently under construction.

Department of Enterprise Services

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) stewards the Washington State Capitol Campus, an internationally accredited arboretum. The 403-acre campus includes five parks, 18 monuments and works of art, and the 260-acre Capitol Lake, which is being restored to an estuary. Each year, we welcome more than 400 public and private events and hundreds of thousands of visitors to our historic Capitol Campus. See a list of upcoming events.