West Spokane Street Bridge

The West Spokane Street Bridge spans the Duwamish Waterway with two separate sections, connecting Harbor Island to the West Seattle neighborhood through mechanical lift spans.

The initial bridge, opened in December 1924, incorporated a Van Bobo trunnion gear mechanism that represented a transition from earlier swing drawbridge designs in Seattle.

The integration of streetcar tracks into the bridge structure in 1924 reflected the municipal transportation priorities of Seattle during the early twentieth century.

The bridge operates with mechanical lifts approximately 1,500 times annually to allow maritime vessels passage through the Duwamish Waterway beneath its spans.

The bridge required substantial reconstruction after the freighter Chavez collision in 1978, leading to the creation of a higher replacement span in 1984.

Location: Seattle

Official opening: 1924

GPS coordinates: 47.57139,-122.35333

Latest update: May 8, 2025 23:00