Spokane Street Bridge, Road bridge in Seattle, United States
The Spokane Street Bridge is a swing bridge in Seattle, Washington, linking Harbor Island to West Seattle over the Duwamish River. It consists of two concrete spans that rotate together to let vessels pass through the waterway below.
The first bridge on this site opened in 1924 and served the area for decades until a freighter collision in 1978 caused serious damage. Federal funding followed, and the current structure was completed in 1991.
The bridge takes its name from Spokane Street, which is itself named after the Spokane people who lived across the region long before European settlers arrived. The name appears on street signs and in everyday local use throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
The bridge opens periodically to let ships through, which can cause short waits for drivers and people on foot. Crossing tends to go more smoothly when port activity in the area is lower.
Most swing bridges rotate 90 degrees to clear the way for vessels, but this one opens only 45 degrees. That smaller rotation is enough for ships to pass and also allows one lane of vehicle traffic to keep moving at the same time.
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