The high-level West Seattle Bridge is a cantilevered segmental bridge that serves as the primary connection between West Seattle and the rest of the city. It was built between 1981 and 1984 after the previous bascule bridge was deemed inoperable as a result of being struck by the Chavez freighter in 1978.
The bridge spans the east and west channels that form the mouth of the Duwamish River at Elliott Bay, crossing over Harbor Island. Its main approaches are Fauntleroy Way S.W. from the west and the Spokane Street Viaduct from the east. The viaduct continues east to Interstate 5 at Columbian Way (exit 163), forming a three-mile (5 km) arterial between West Seattle and I-5. The navigational clearance height of the high-level West Seattle Bridge is 140 feet (42.6 meters)[1].
A low-level West Seattle Bridge of swing-span design spans the west channel of the Duwamish River immediately north of the high-level bridge. The low-level bridge carries the surface-level Spokane Street and has a navigational clearance of 45 feet (13.7 meters).
The Spokane Street Viaduct section between Interstate 5 and WA 99 is scheduled to be rebuilt and widened beginning in the summer of 2008. The new roadway will have 3 lanes in each direction and shoulders. A new westbound on and off ramp will be built at 1st Ave S to replace the existing dangerous 4th Ave S off ramp. A new 2 lane eastbound off ramp will be built to 4th Ave S. The project is scheduled to be complete by 2011. The new roadway may be considered for an interstate designation after the upgrade as it connects to the Port of Seattle.
Exit list
| Destinations |
Notes |
| Fauntleroy Way Southwest, 35th Avenue Southwest |
Ends at an at-grade intersection |
| Admiral Way |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| Harbor Avenue, Avalon Way |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| Delridge Way Southwest, Southwest Spokane Street - South Seattle Community College |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| 11th Avenue Southwest - Harbor Island, Terminal 18 |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
 SR 99 north |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| 1st Avenue South |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| 4th Avenue South |
Westbound exit |
| Spokane Street, 6th Avenue South |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
 I-5 - Portland, Vancouver |
|
| Columbian Way, 15th Avenue South |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
Notes
External links
|
Bridges and tunnels in and around Seattle |
|
| Road bridges: |
|
|
| Rail bridges/trestles: |
|
|
| Tunnels: |
|
|
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
SR 99 north.svg){kind=small}
I-5 - Portland, Vancouver
