Editing Ballard Bridge

{{Short description|Drawbridge in Seattle, Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name      = Ballard Bridge
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| image            = [[File:Ballard Bridge from Seattle Maritime Academy 01.jpg|frameless|upright=1.35]]
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          = The Ballard Bridge seen from the<br> 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      = 
| design           = 
| material         = 
| length           = {{Convert|2854|ft|abbr=on}}
| width            = 
| height           = 
| mainspan         = {{Convert|218|ft|abbr=on}}
| spans            = 
| pierswater       = 
| load             = 
| clearance        = 
| below            = 
| life             = 
| builder          = 
| fabricator       = 
| begin            = 
| complete         = 1917
| cost             = 
| open             = 
| inaugurated      = 
| toll             = 
| traffic          = 
| preceded         = 
| followed         = 
| heritage         = NRHP
| collapsed        = 
| rebuilt          = 1939
| replaces         =
| map_cue          = 
| map_image        = 
| map_alt          = 
| map_text         = 
| map_width        = 
| coordinates      = 
| lat              = 
| long             = 
| references       = 
| extra            = 
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed       = yes
| name        = Ballard Bridge
| nrhp_type   =
| image       = [[File:View from boat of Ballard Bridge opening - Seattle 2011.jpg|frameless|upright=1.35]]
| 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<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
}} }}
The '''Ballard Bridge''', also known as the '''15th Avenue Bridge''', is a double-leaf [[bascule bridge]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. It carries 15th Avenue NW over Seattle's [[Salmon Bay]] between [[Ballard, Seattle|Ballard]] to the north and [[Interbay, Seattle|Interbay]] to the south. The Ballard Bridge follows the [[Fremont Bridge (Seattle)|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}}.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The approaches of the bridge were originally timber trestles.<ref>{{cite web |website=historylink.org |title=Ballard Bridge (Seattle) |date=April 4, 2017 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/11260 |accessdate=March 16, 2022 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1982, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris"/><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In recent years bicyclists have complained that improvements are needed to address safety concerns.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In 2024, work began on [[Seismic retrofit|seismic improvements]] to the bridge structure, including installing ground anchors and other safety features.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The project shut down the bridge to vehicular traffic over several weekends in September and October.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Seattle - Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916.jpg|Ballard Bridge under construction, 1916
Image:Ballard Bridge-1.jpg|The bridge, up
Image:Ballard Bridge-2.jpg|The bridge, down
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ballard Bridge}}
*[http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/bridges.htm#ballard Seattle Department of Transportation: Ballard Bridge]

{{Ballard, Seattle}}
{{Bridges of Seattle}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Crossings
|place           = [[Lake Washington Ship Canal]]
|bridge          = Ballard Bridge
|bridge signs    = 
|upstream        = [[Fremont Bridge (Seattle)|Fremont Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = 
|downstream      = [[Salmon Bay Bridge]]
|downstream signs = 
}}
{{Lake Washington Ship Canal|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1917 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Ballard, Seattle]]
[[Category:Bascule bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1917]]
[[Category:Bridges in Seattle]]
[[Category:Drawbridges on the National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Seattle]]
[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Towers in Washington (state)]]