George Washington Memorial Bridge, Cantilever truss bridge in Seattle, United States.
The George Washington Memorial Bridge, known as the Aurora Bridge, carries State Route 99 over the west end of Lake Union between Queen Anne and Fremont. It is 2,945 feet long and 167 feet above the water, with two V-shaped steel cantilever sections, each 325 feet long, anchored on concrete pilings. A 150-foot Warren truss suspended span joins the cantilevers, and the main span measures 475 feet.
The bridge was completed in 1932 and helped Seattle expand its road network during the Great Depression. It was one of the important infrastructure projects the city built during that difficult period.
The bridge connects two neighborhoods and is used daily by locals to reach work, schools, and shops. It has become part of Seattle's visual identity and reflects how the city evolved to link its northern communities.
The sidewalk and roadway allow both pedestrians and vehicles to cross the bridge safely. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when you can enjoy the views of the canal and surrounding neighborhoods.
A time capsule sealed by the widow of Judge Thomas Burke sits in the bridge and is due to be opened in 2032, a century after the 1932 dedication on George Washington's 200th birthday. The Fremont Troll, a concrete figure clutching a real Volkswagen Beetle, was placed under the north end in 1990.
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