The Ballard Bridge: More Than Just a Lift

The Ballard Bridge: More Than Just a Lift

Okay, so the Ballard Bridge. You see it every day if you’re around Seattle, right? Officially, it’s the 15th Avenue Bridge, but let’s be real, nobody calls it that. It’s more than just a way to bop from Ballard to Interbay; it’s a total Seattle icon with a pretty cool history. I mean, think about it – how often do you really think about the height of a bridge? Probably not that often, but stick with me, because there’s more to it than you might guess.

So, How Tall Are We Talking?

Here’s the deal. When the Ballard Bridge is closed, you’ve got about 44 feet (or 13.4 meters) of clearance i. That’s the magic number for boats that can cruise underneath without needing the whole thing to go up. Now, when it does go up, the opening is a whopping 218 feet (66 meters) wide i. Plenty of room for bigger boats to get through. And the total length of the whole shebang? A cool 2,854 feet (870 meters) i.

Bascule? Bless You!

“Bascule” – sounds like a sneeze, right? It’s just the fancy French word for “seesaw,” and that’s basically how this bridge works ii. It’s a drawbridge. When a tall boat comes along, those big leaves go up, creating a path. Simple, but genius!

Flashback Time

Picture this: 1917. That’s when they built the Ballard Bridge. A.H. Dimock and F.A. Rapp were the masterminds, connecting Ballard and Interbay over Salmon Bay, which is part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal iii. Originally, it had these wooden approaches, kind of rickety looking, I imagine. But in 1939, they got a major upgrade thanks to the Public Works Administration iii. Concrete and steel replaced the wood, and they even ripped out the old streetcar rails iii. Fast forward to 1982, and boom, it’s officially a historic landmark iii. Pretty neat, huh?

Boats Rule (Mostly)

Here’s a fun fact: because the Ship Canal is a navigable waterway under federal law, boats get the right-of-way, thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard iv. So, unless it’s rush hour (7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. on weekdays), that bridge has to open for boats iv. Can be a pain if you’re stuck in traffic, but hey, that’s Seattle! And if you’re piloting a massive commercial vessel over 1,000 tons? You get priority, all the time iv. Those guys can request an opening by radio or a whistle signal iv.

Superyachts and Bridge Heights

You know what’s funny? Even superyachts have been part of the bridge conversation around here! While the Ballard Bridge can open for any size boat, there was talk of requiring fixed bridges on the Ship Canal to have a 205-foot clearance to accommodate those mega-boats v. It just goes to show you, there’s always a tug-of-war between boats and cars in this town.

Taking Care of Business

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is in charge of keeping the Ballard Bridge in tip-top shape vi. They check it regularly, and because it’s an old-timer, it needs some serious TLC to keep up with modern times vi. There was even a Ballard Bridge Planning Study to figure out how to make it better for bikes and pedestrians vi. And just last year, in 2024, they did some seismic upgrades, adding ground anchors vi. Always something going on!

The Bottom Line

So, the height of the Ballard Bridge is more than just a number. It’s about balancing the needs of boats and cars, the history of Seattle, and the ongoing effort to keep this iconic structure going strong. Next time you’re driving across, take a second to appreciate it!