Tuesday, September 30, 2025

1800s+1912+1917 Fremont Bridges over Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle, WA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

The Lake Washington Ship Canal and this bridge opened in 1917.
The high-level Aurora Bridge opened in 1932 to relieve traffic congestion at this bridge.

Boat View, Mar 2016

I recognize the trusses as a Second Generation Chicago Style Trunnion Bridge. The high-level Aurora Bridge on the right opened in 1932. It was built to relieve traffic congestion because this bridge had to be raised so many times. (The Chicago-based design is confirmed in HisotryLink_bridge.)
Street View, Jul 2011

Screenshot from 1:17 video by Steven Pavlov via ArchivedBridgeHunter

Bridges Now and Then posted
Looking northwest at Seattle's Fremont Bridge, washed out when the Lake Union Dam washed out, March, 1914. (Seattle Municipal Archives)

This topo map shows that Lake Union was created by a dam at Fremont. I have not been able to determine why Lake Union was created.
1984/1903 Seattle @ 62,500

This dam was made obsolete by the Ballard (Hiram M. Chittendon) Locks.
HistoryLink_dam
"Fremont Dam before dredging of ship canal in 1915 Courtesy MOHAI (1983.10.6935)"
On Mar 13, 1914, Lake Union dropped 8.5' (2.6m) in 24 hours when the dam failed.

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