Rainbow Bridge, Steel bridge in La Conner, Washington, US.
The Rainbow Bridge is a steel arch bridge spanning the Swinomish Channel and connecting Fidalgo Island to La Conner. The structure measures approximately 243 meters in length and rises about 23 meters above the water, allowing boats to pass underneath.
The Rainbow Bridge was built in 1957, replacing the earlier bridge that had connected Fidalgo Island and La Conner since the late 19th century. Its steel deck arch design, with a main span of 176.80 metres, was engineered to provide 23 metres of clearance above the Swinomish Channel for maritime traffic.
The bridge carries traffic between La Conner and Fidalgo Island over the Swinomish Channel, a waterway used by boats passing beneath its 23-metre clearance. Its 1957 steel arch has appeared in photographs taken from the La Conner shore, where the span frames the channel and the flats beyond.
The bridge is open to vehicles and pedestrians, connecting the town to surrounding communities. It is wise to drive carefully during bad weather, as the elevated structure can be exposed to wind and wet conditions.
The bridge's 176.8-metre main span is one of the longest steel deck arches in Washington. Its 23 metres of clearance lets tall-masted sailboats pass beneath without opening, a fact often missed by drivers crossing above.
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