Oenothera

by | Mar 14, 2018 | Oenothera

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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 (66 m)[citation needed] and a total length of 2,854 ft (870 m).[2] The approaches of the bridge were originally timber trestles.[3] 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.[4] In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1][5]

In recent years bicyclists have complained that improvements are needed to address safety concerns.[6][7]

In 2024, work began on seismic improvements to the bridge structure, including installing ground anchors and other safety features.[8]

  • Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916
    Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916
  • The bridge, up
    The bridge, up
  • The bridge, down
    The bridge, down

Notes

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Seattle Department of Transportation. "Ballard Bridge". Bridges and Roadway Structures. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  3. ^ "Ballard Bridge (Seattle)". historylink.org. April 4, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Alaskan Way Viaduct/Reconstruction of the Ballard Bridge (16 mm). City of Seattle. 1940. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Dorpat, Paul (August 12, 2001). "A Bridge Loses Track". Pacific Northwest Magazine. The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  6. ^ Pulkkinen, Levi; Gutierrez, Scott (29 July 2008). "Bicyclists say city ignores safety concerns; Riding with danger every day". Seattle P-I. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  7. ^ Cat Le, Phuong; Lange, Larry (April 14, 2006). "Bicyclists face rough ride in region; Cycling club finds gaps in some area bike routes". Seattle P-I. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  8. ^ Seattle Department of Transportation. "15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project".
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