Salmon Bay Bridge

Salmon Bay Bridge is a steel railway bascule bridge connecting Magnolia and Ballard in Seattle, equipped with a lifting mechanism that allows trains to cross over the waterway. The structure spans several hundred meters and serves as a working transportation corridor for rail traffic between neighborhoods.

The bridge was built in 1914 by Great Northern Railway to establish a rail connection across Salmon Bay. This construction was a key step in developing Seattle's railroad network and industrial accessibility.

The bridge represents Seattle's connection between rail transport and maritime commerce along the waterway. It shows how the city integrated industrial infrastructure with its relationship to the water.

The bridge is used by multiple trains daily and can be viewed from nearby shoreline vantage points. The best experience comes when observing the structure during train operations and when the lifting mechanism is active.

The bridge's lifting mechanism rarely operates in full view, as fewer ships pass beneath it compared to earlier decades. Witnessing the bridge raise is an uncommon moment that many visitors miss entirely.

Location: Seattle

Official opening: 1914

GPS coordinates: 47.66680,-122.40213

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03