Ballard Bridge

{{Short description|Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States}}

{{Infobox bridge

| bridge_name = Ballard Bridge

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| image = File:Ballard Bridge from Seattle Maritime Academy 01.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = The Ballard Bridge seen from the
Seattle Maritime Academy

| official_name =

| other_name = 15th Avenue Bridge

| carries = 15th Avenue NW

| crosses = Salmon Bay

| locale = Seattle

| owner =

| maint = Seattle Department of Transportation

| id =

| website =

| architect = A.H. Dimock

| designer =

| engineering =

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| length = {{Convert|2854|ft|abbr=on}}

| width =

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| mainspan = {{Convert|218|ft|abbr=on}}

| spans =

| pierswater =

| load =

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| life =

| builder =

| fabricator =

| begin =

| complete = 1917

| cost =

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| traffic =

| preceded =

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| heritage = NRHP

| collapsed =

| rebuilt = 1939

| replaces =

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{{Infobox NRHP

| embed = yes

| name = Ballard Bridge

| nrhp_type =

| image = File:View from boat of Ballard Bridge opening - Seattle 2011.jpg

| caption = Ballard Bridge in the process of opening (or closing)

| location = Seattle, Washington

| coordinates = {{coord|47|39|34|N|122|22|34|W|display=inline,title}}

| area =

| built = 1917

| added = July 16, 1982

| mpsub = Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR

| refnum = 82004231{{NRISref|2007a}}

}} }}

The Ballard Bridge, also known as the 15th Avenue Bridge, is a double-leaf bascule bridge in Seattle, Washington. It carries 15th Avenue NW over Seattle's Salmon Bay between Ballard to the north and Interbay to the south. The Ballard Bridge follows the Fremont Bridge in the east in the succession of bridges spanning the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which connects Lake Washington in the east to Puget Sound in the west.

Built in 1917, it has an opening span of {{convert|218|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} and a total length of {{convert|2854|ft|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/bridges.htm#ballard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030111070801/http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/bridges.htm#ballard|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 11, 2003|title=Ballard Bridge |accessdate=2009-11-17|work=Bridges and Roadway Structures |author=Seattle Department of Transportation }} The approaches of the bridge were originally timber trestles.{{cite web |website=historylink.org |title=Ballard Bridge (Seattle) |date=April 4, 2017 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/11260 |accessdate=March 16, 2022 }} It also carried a streetcar. In 1939, the timber approach spans of the Ballard Bridge were replaced as a Public Works Administration project. The deck was surfaced with concrete and the rails for the streetcar were removed.{{Cite AV media|medium=16 mm|title=Alaskan Way Viaduct/Reconstruction of the Ballard Bridge|url=http://archives.seattle.gov/digital-collections/index.php/Detail/objects/204671|publisher=City of Seattle|date=1940|accessdate= January 10, 2020}} In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Dorpat |title=A Bridge Loses Track |newspaper=The Seattle Times |department=Pacific Northwest Magazine |date=August 12, 2001 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2001/0812/nowthen.html |accessdate=November 17, 2009 }}

In recent years bicyclists have complained that improvements are needed to address safety concerns.{{cite news |title=Bicyclists say city ignores safety concerns; Riding with danger every day |first1=Levi |last1=Pulkkinen |first2=Scott |last2=Gutierrez |newspaper=Seattle P-I |accessdate=2009-11-17 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/372600_ballardbridge29.html |date=29 July 2008 }}{{cite news |date=April 14, 2006 |title=Bicyclists face rough ride in region; Cycling club finds gaps in some area bike routes |first1=Phuong |last1=Cat Le |first2=Larry |last2=Lange |newspaper=Seattle P-I |accessdate=November 17, 2009 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/266713_bicycling14.html }}

In 2024, work began on seismic improvements to the bridge structure, including installing ground anchors and other safety features.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/maintenance-and-paving/current-paving-projects/15th-ave-w/nw-and-ballard-bridge-paving-project |title=15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project |publisher=Seattle Department of Transportation}} The project shut down the bridge to vehicular traffic over several weekends in September and October.{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Ballard Bridge to close on several September and October weekends |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/ballard-bridge-to-close-on-several-september-and-october-weekends/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 20, 2024}}