Ballard Bridge
Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States
title: "Ballard Bridge" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1917-establishments-in-washington-(state)", "ballard,-seattle", "bascule-bridges-in-the-united-states", "bridges-completed-in-1917", "bridges-in-seattle", "drawbridges-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places", "national-register-of-historic-places-in-seattle", "road-bridges-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places-in-washington-(state)", "towers-in-washington-(state)"] description: "Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballard_Bridge" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox bridge"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| bridge_name | Ballard Bridge |
| image | [[File:Ballard Bridge from Seattle Maritime Academy 01.jpg |
| caption | The Ballard Bridge seen from the |
| Seattle Maritime Academy | |
| other_name | 15th Avenue Bridge |
| carries | 15th Avenue NW |
| crosses | Salmon Bay |
| locale | Seattle |
| maint | Seattle Department of Transportation |
| architect | A.H. Dimock |
| length | 2854 ft |
| mainspan | 218 ft |
| complete | 1917 |
| heritage | NRHP |
| rebuilt | 1939 |
| embed | yes |
| name | Ballard Bridge |
| image | [[File:View from boat of Ballard Bridge opening - Seattle 2011.jpg |
| caption | Ballard Bridge in the process of opening (or closing) |
| location | Seattle, Washington |
| coordinates | |
| built | 1917 |
| added | July 16, 1982 |
| mpsub | Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR |
| refnum | 82004231 |
| :: |
| bridge_name = Ballard Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = [[File:Ballard Bridge from Seattle Maritime Academy 01.jpg|frameless|upright=1.35]] | image_size = | alt = | caption = The Ballard Bridge seen from the Seattle Maritime Academy | official_name = | other_name = 15th Avenue Bridge | carries = 15th Avenue NW | crosses = Salmon Bay | locale = Seattle | owner = | maint = Seattle Department of Transportation | id = | website = | architect = A.H. Dimock | designer = | engineering = | design = | material = | length = 2854 ft | width = | height = | mainspan = 218 ft | spans = | pierswater = | load = | clearance = | below = | life = | builder = | fabricator = | begin = | complete = 1917 | cost = | open = | inaugurated = | toll = | traffic = | preceded = | followed = | heritage = NRHP | collapsed = | rebuilt = 1939 | replaces = | map_cue = | map_image = | map_alt = | map_text = | map_width = | coordinates = | lat = | long = | references = | extra = | embed = yes | name = Ballard Bridge | nrhp_type = | image = [[File:View from boat of Ballard Bridge opening - Seattle 2011.jpg|frameless|upright=1.35]] | caption = Ballard Bridge in the process of opening (or closing) | location = Seattle, Washington | coordinates = | area = | built = 1917 | added = July 16, 1982 | mpsub = Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR | refnum = 82004231 The Ballard Bridge, also known as the 15th Avenue Bridge, is a double-leaf bascule bridge in Seattle, Washington. It carries 15th Avenue NW over Seattle's Salmon Bay between Ballard to the north and Interbay to the south. The Ballard Bridge follows the Fremont Bridge in the east in the succession of bridges spanning the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which connects Lake Washington in the east to Puget Sound in the west.
Built in 1917, it has an opening span of 218 ft and a total length of 2854 ft. The approaches of the bridge were originally timber trestles. It also carried a streetcar. In 1939, the timber approach spans of the Ballard Bridge were replaced as a Public Works Administration project. The deck was surfaced with concrete and the rails for the streetcar were removed. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In recent years bicyclists have complained that improvements are needed to address safety concerns.
In 2024, work began on seismic improvements to the bridge structure, including installing ground anchors and other safety features. The project shut down the bridge to vehicular traffic over several weekends in September and October.
Cultural Impact
The Ballard Bridge is featured on the crest of Ballard FC, a semi-professional soccer team competing in USL League Two. Their largest supporters' group is called the Bridge Keepers, also in reference to the Ballard Bridge.
Gallery
File:Seattle - Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916.jpg|Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916 Image:Ballard Bridge-1.jpg|The bridge, up Image:Ballard Bridge-2.jpg|The bridge, down
Notes
References
- {{NRISref. 2007a
- Seattle Department of Transportation. "Ballard Bridge". Bridges and Roadway Structures.
- (April 4, 2017). "Ballard Bridge (Seattle)".
- (1940). "Alaskan Way Viaduct/Reconstruction of the Ballard Bridge". City of Seattle.
- Dorpat, Paul. (August 12, 2001). "A Bridge Loses Track". [[The Seattle Times]].
- (29 July 2008). "Bicyclists say city ignores safety concerns; Riding with danger every day". [[Seattle P-I]].
- (April 14, 2006). "Bicyclists face rough ride in region; Cycling club finds gaps in some area bike routes". [[Seattle P-I]].
- "15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project". Seattle Department of Transportation.
- Phair, Vonnai. (September 12, 2024). "Ballard Bridge to close on several September and October weekends". The Seattle Times.
- Evans, Jayda. (May 21, 2022). "Ballard FC kicks off its existence with passionate fan base already installed and an easy win". The Seattle Times.
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