Lake Washington ship Canal

If you are in a large vessel or sailboat, you may have to ask for as many as six bridges to be raised. You should know the height of your mast and be prepared to signal the bridge tender at least 100 yards (30.48 m) from the bridge.

Signal Definitions:

     _ Short blast, less than 1 second

     ___ Long blast, less than 4 seconds 

     _ _ _ _ 4 Shorts for danger or no opening

     ___ _ _ 1 Long and 2 Shorts to lower salt water barrier in large lock   

 
Bridge Opening Signals (As encountered from seaward)

All vessels: Use whistle or horn signals to communicate to bridge tenders

Burlington Northern Bridge (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad)  ____ _

Clearance 43 feet (13.11 m) at high tide (mean high water of an approximate 10-foot/3.05-m tide)

Ballard Bridge (Seattle Department of Transportation) ____ _ 

Clearance 44 feet (13.72 m) at center span at mean regulated lake level.  Closed weekdays 7 - 9 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m., except national holidays but closed Columbus Day.  To open bridge 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., call (206) 386-4251, 1 hour before arrival.

Fremont Bridge (Seattle Department of Transportation) ____ _ 

Clearance 30 feet (9.14 m) at center span at mean regulated lake level.  Closed weekdays 7 - 9 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m., except national holidays but closed Columbus Day.  To open bridge 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., call (206) 386-4251, 1 hour before arrival.

University Bridge (Seattle Department of Transportation) ____ _ 

Clearance 42 feet 6 inches at center span at mean regulated lake level.   Closed weekdays 7 - 9 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m., except national holidays but closed Columbus Day.  To open bridge 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., call (206) 386-4251, 1 hour before arrival.

Montlake Bridge (Washington State Department of Transportation) ____ _ 

Clearance 46 feet (14.02 m) at center span at mean regulated lake level.   

May - August, Closed weekdays 7 - 9 a.m. and 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.  September - April, Closed weekdays 7 - 10 a.m. and 3:30 - 7 p.m., except national holidays but closed Columbus Day.  Call (206) 386-4251 (or marine ch.13) 1 hour before arrival. 12:30 - 3:30 a.m. only opens on the hour and half-hour.

SR 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (Washington State Department of Transportation) ____ _

Clearance 54 feet (16.46 m) east, 45 feet (13.72 m) west. To open bridge, call (206) 440-4490 a minimum of 2 hours prior to needed opening.  No drawspan openings are allowed on weekdays 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

I-90 Mercer Island Floating Bridge (Washington State Department of Transportation) ____ _

Bridge does not open. Pass under east and west high rises. Clearance 28 feet east and west of center span. Clearance 70 feet east channel bridge east of Mercer Island.