Ballard Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Updated July 2026
What's Happening Now?
We are in the early design phase. Bridge inspections, survey, and other fieldwork are ongoing to understand current bridge conditions. We are developing designs to address structural deficiencies that were identified in the bridge inspections. The bridge repairs and strengthening improvements we design will address the structural deficiencies and keep the bridge in reliable working condition. As part of our design work, we are also considering a potential sidewalk widening on the west side of the bridge.
Project Overview
The Ballard Bridge, built in 1917, spans the eastern edge of Salmon Bay and connects Ballard to Magnolia, Queen Anne, and Downtown Seattle via Interbay. The 2,854-foot bridge carries more than 57,000 vehicles per day across the Lake Washington Ship Canal and is an important part of Seattle’s street and bridge network that keeps people and goods moving.
The Ballard Bridge Rehabilitation Project aims to bring repairs and strengthening improvements to the Ballard Bridge to keep it in reliable working condition. This project does not include work on the moveable bascule span that opens for maritime traffic in the Ship Canal.
In addition to these repairs and improvements, we will also develop a design for widening the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge based on recommendations from past bridge studies and community input. The widened sidewalk may be built as part of the Ballard Bridge’s repairs and strengthening improvements, dependent on funding and timing of construction impacts.
Project Area
Frequently Asked Questions
We are advancing design for widening the sidewalk on the west side of the Ballard bridge based on recommendations from past bridge studies and public comments we have received over the years. Widening the sidewalk will improve access for people walking, rolling, and biking as well as enhance their travel experience on the crossing that exists today. The western side of the bridge is considered a more feasible option because it is a more direct connection to the 15th Ave W and W Emerson St intersection where the City is considering future improvements.
We are not continuing to explore sidewalk widening on both sides of the Ballard Bridge because of cost considerations. Widening the sidewalk on one side of the bridge brings down costs because it relies on fewer structural changes and right of way acquisitions.
Funding for these sidewalk widening improvements have not yet been identified.
We are in the early stages of what a widened sidewalk could look like. The design may include:
- A widened sidewalk. The final sidewalk width will be determined as design progresses.
- A new separation barrier between the sidewalk and adjacent traffic lanes.
- A new pedestrian railing that respects the bridge’s historic character and meets modern standards.
- Updates at the ends of the bridge to improve connections to street-level sidewalks, roadways, and trails.
Traffic impacts are being evaluated as part of our design work. We will know what traffic impacts will look like as design progresses. Depending on how the repairs and strengthening improvements are built, we expect temporary lane closures. Full bridge closures on select days or weekends may be needed for some work. We are reviewing the 2024 and 2025 full bridge closure plans for lessons learned. Later in the design phase, we will collect input on how to safely maintain traffic during construction.
Schedule
Nearby Projects
We will be coordinating with the following capital projects in the neighborhood:
Funding
Bridge repairs and strengthening improvements are funded by the voter-approved 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy. To learn more, visit seattle.gov/transportation/levy.
We are exploring local, state, and federal sources to fund the sidewalk widening and sidewalk and trail connections on the west side of the bridge.
Need a Translation?
If you need this information translated, please call (206) 257-2155.