Ship Canal Bridge

The Ship Canal Bridge extends 4,429 feet across Portage Bay with a double-deck structure carrying eight lanes of Interstate 5 traffic at 182 feet elevation.

The completion of this steel truss bridge in December 1962 represented the largest infrastructure project of its kind in the Northwest United States at that time.

The bridge connects Seattle's Capitol Hill and University District neighborhoods, forming a central part of the city's north-south transportation corridor through dense urban areas.

Four reversible express lanes on the lower deck change direction based on peak traffic patterns, moving southbound during morning hours and northbound in afternoons.

The bridge structure incorporates separate decks for regular and express traffic, with the upper level maintaining constant directional flow while the lower level adapts to traffic demands.

Location: Washington

Inception: December 1962

Official opening: December 1962

GPS coordinates: 47.65310,-122.32300

Latest update: September 23, 2025 16:45