Fremont Bridge openings questioned

By Geeky Swedes · September 22nd, 2008 · 2 Comments

The Fremont Bridge is the busiest draw bridge in the country as people who drive over it can probably tell. In today’s Getting There column in the PI, Mary Coward writes that the bridge is often up during her morning bus commute making her miss her connection. “Are there particular hours that are considered ‘off-limits’ for bridge-opening?” It turns out that the Coast Guard is in charge of draw bridges. They have designated 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. peak traffic hours for cars and won’t open the bridge for small boats weighing less than 1,000 tons. While the city has asked, the Coast Guard has not been receptive to extending those times.

2 responses so far ↓

1 coot // Sep 28, 2008 at 1:58 pm

The ship canal is a federaly controled waterway which by law must be open to marine traffic. It has been that way since 1916. For those who travel by land, you have had 92 years to learn there may be delays when crossing over waterways in Seattle.

On the other hand, to accomodate nubies, we could fill and pave everything - who needs lakes and canals? Maybe we should finish flatening all those inconvienent hills as well.

Go back to Kansas.
2 Ballardog // Sep 29, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Ya, no bridge openings when I have to pee.