The Washington State Department of Transportation operates 17 moveable bridges on state routes. Federal Law ( Title 33, Part 177 Draw Bridge Operations ) gives marine traffic the right-of-way over vehicular traffic. WSDOT works with the US Coast Guard to create reasonable restrictions on marine openings (for vessels under 5,000 gross tons) during peak travel times to ease congestion for drivers when possible.
Click the links below for marine opening information on the following bridges
I-5 - Interstate Bridge
Location: Spans the Columbia River at Vancouver.
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions.
Vessel clearance: 19’ at low tide
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 360.533.9359 or on VHF CH. #13 or #16.
Location: Tacoma
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions.
Vessel clearance: 70’ at low tide
Request an opening: Call the bridge crew at 360.779.3233 or on VHF CH #13 at least two hours before the intended opening.
Location: Aberdeen
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions.
Vessel clearance : 19’ at low tide
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 360.533.9359 or on VHF CH. #13 or #16.
Location: Aberdeen
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions.
Vessel clearance: 19’ at low tide
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 360.533.9359 or on VHF CH. #13 or #16.
Location: Clarkston
Restrictions on marine openings: From March 15 - November 15 openings for marine traffic are restricted except at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. From Novermber 16 through March 14 openings for marine traffic are restricted except at 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Vessel clearance: Close the vessel clearance ranges from 10 -15' depending on the tide. Open the vessel clearance ranges from 40-45' depending on the tide.
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 509.577.1910 at least two hours before the intended opening Monday through Thursday. Marine opening requests for Friday through Sunday must be given by 5 p.m. on the preceding Wednesday. For holidays opening requests must be made by 5 p.m. two working days (excluding Friday) before the intended opening.
Location: Seattle
Restrictions on marine openings: Drawbridge openings for marine traffic are restricted on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. However, the drawbridge may be opened any time on the weekend or on federal holidays.
Vessel clearance: 48’
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 206.764.4160 or on VHF CH. #13.
Average opening time: 11 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
Location: Hoquiam
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions
Vessel clearance: 80' at low tide.
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 360.533.9360 or on VHF CH. #13 or #16 at least one hour before the intended opening. If the desired opening is one hour before sunrise or one hour after sunrise no prior notice is required.
Location: Aberdeen
Restrictions on marine openings: Drawbridge openings for marine traffic are restricted on weekdays between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. and between 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. However, the drawbridge may be opened any time on the weekend or federal holidays.
Vessel clearance: 55' at low tide
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 360.533.9360 or on VHF CH. #13 or #16 at least one hour before the intended opening. If the desired opening is one hour before sunrise or one hour after sunrise no prior notice is required.
Location: North end of Hood Canal
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions
Vessel clearance: Vertical clearance, at high tide, is 35 feet at the west end and 55 feet at the east end. Clearance heights change with the 16.5 foot tidal swings. Mariners using this channel are advised to use caution .
Request an opening: Call the bridge crew at 360.779.3233 or on VHF CH #13 at least one hour before the intended opening.
Average opening time: 30 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
Location: Seattle
Restrictions on marine openings: From April 31 to August 31, drawbridge openings for marine traffic are restricted on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. From September 1 to April 30, drawbridge openings for marine traffic are restricted on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. However, the drawspan may be opened anytime on the weekend or on federal holidays.
Vessel clearance: 46’
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 206.720.3048 or on VHF CH. #13
Average opening time: 4 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
Location: Spans Lake Washington between Medina and Seattle.
Restrictions on marine openings: Boaters with vessels taller than 45 feet must give at least one hour notice if they wish to pass through the SR 520 floating bridge drawspan between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., seven days a week. Drawspan openings during this time will occur on the hour and half-hour, with the earliest at 9 a.m. and the latest at 3:30 p.m. Boaters must give at least two hours notice for a drawspan opening between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays, or between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends. The drawspan will not open weekdays from 6 a.m., to 8:59 a.m., and 4 p.m., to 7 p.m., with the exception of federal holidays excluding Columbus Day.
Vessel clearance: Vessels requiring 45’ feet of vertical clearance or less should use the west navigational channel. The east navigational channel is closed until 2015. It will be open to boaters on certain weekends due to special events. Check the SR 520 floating bridge and landings: Drawspan Information for details.
Request an opening: Call Seattle Dispatch radio at 206-440-4491 for a drawspan opening.
Average opening time: 20 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
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Location: Everett
Restrictions on marine openings: There are no restrictions for marine traffic because the SR 529 Bridges are over a tidal estuary and critical freight route. Many vessels are only able to navigate the river and sloughs during high tide so bridge openings are regulated by the timing of the tide.
Vessel clearance: Vertical clearance at high tide is 35 feet. Clearance heights change with the 5.7 foot tidal swings.
- Steamboat Slough Ship Canal: 105 feet
- Ebey Slough Ship Canal: 110 feet
Request an opening: Call the bridge tender at 425-339-1701 or 425-231-5388 or VHF CH. #13 at least four hours before intended opening of the Steamboat Slough Bridges and at least one hour before intended opening of the Ebey Slough Bridge.
Average opening time
- Steamboat Slough Bridges: 14 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
- Ebey Slough Bridge: 10 minutes, traffic delays may be longer
Burlington Northern Bridge: owned and operated by Burlington Northern Railroad.
The following moveable bridges are owned and operated by the Seattle Department of Transportation
- Fremont Bridge
- University Bridge
- Fremont Bridge
- Southwest Spokane Street Swing Bridge
- Ballard Bridge