When do Seattle drawbridges open? Every bridge, every rule

A drawbridge opens on signal. A boat sounds its horn or calls the tender, and the bridge lifts. The rules below are the exceptions, and the exceptions are what matter to a driver: the hours a bridge does not have to open for small boats, how long a tender can hold a lift for traffic, and what happens at night.

Ballard Bridge

Opens on signal for boats.
Weekdays 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. it does not have to open for vessels under 1,000 tons. Most pleasure boats wait.
The tender can hold an opening up to 10 minutes to clear backed-up traffic, but not for a tug with a tow.
From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. boats give one hour of notice to the Fremont Bridge tender.

The draws of the Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, and University Bridge, mile 4.3, shall open on signal, except that: (1) The draws need not be opened for a period of up to 10 minutes after receiving an opening request, if needed to pass accumulated vehicular traffic. However, the draws shall open without delay, when requested by vessels engaged in towing operations. (2) The draws need not open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except all Federal holidays but Columbus Day for any vessel of less than 1000 tons, unless the vessel has in tow a vessel of 1000 gross tons or over. (3) Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. the draws shall open if at least one hour notice is given by telephone, radiotelephone, or otherwise to the drawtender at the Fremont Avenue Bridge. 33 CFR 117.1051(d)

Fremont Bridge

Opens on signal for boats. It is the busiest drawbridge in the country by openings, and the lowest on the Ship Canal, so it lifts for boats the others clear.
Weekdays 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. it does not have to open for vessels under 1,000 tons.
The tender can hold an opening up to 10 minutes to clear traffic, but not for a tug with a tow.
From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. boats give one hour of notice to the Fremont tender.

University Bridge

Opens on signal for boats.
Weekdays 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. it does not have to open for vessels under 1,000 tons.
The tender can hold an opening up to 10 minutes to clear traffic, but not for a tug with a tow.
From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. boats give one hour of notice to the Fremont Bridge tender.
Seattle does not publish a live up or down status for this bridge. The rule is all anyone has.

Montlake Bridge

Opens on signal for boats, with the longest closed hours of any Seattle bridge.
Weekdays, for vessels under 1,000 tons, it does not have to open 7 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in summer (April 30 to September 1), and 7 to 10 a.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m. the rest of the year.
From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 6 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays it opens only on the hour and half hour.
The tender can hold an opening up to 10 minutes to clear traffic, but not for a tug with a tow.

The draw of the Montlake Bridge, mile 5.2, shall open on signal, except that: (1) The draw need not open for a period of up to 10 minutes after receiving an opening request, if needed to pass accumulated vehicular traffic. However, the draw shall open without delay, when requested by vessels engaged in towing operations. (2) For any vessel or watercraft of less than 1,000 gross tons, unless the vessel has in tow a vessel of 1,000 gross tons or over, from Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays: (i) The draw need not open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from April 30 to September 1 and from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. from September 1 to April 30. (ii) The draw need open only on the hour and half hour from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 33 CFR 117.1051(e)

First Avenue South Bridge

Opens on signal for boats.
Weekdays 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. it does not have to open, except for a vessel of 5,000 gross tons or more, or a tug moving one.
Federal holidays count as weekends, except Columbus Day.

The draws of each bridge across the Duwamish Waterway shall open on signal, except as follows: (1) From Monday through Friday, except all Federal holidays but Columbus Day, the draws of the First Avenue South Bridges, mile 2.5, need not be opened for the passage of vessels from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., except: The draws shall open at any time for a vessel of 5000 gross tons and over, a vessel towing a vessel of 5000 gross tons and over, and a vessel proceeding to pick up for towing a vessel of 5000 gross tons and over. 33 CFR 117.1041(a)(1)

South Park Bridge

Opens on signal for boats.
Weekdays 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. it does not have to open.
From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., every day, boats give 12 hours of notice. Emergency responders get an opening within 45 minutes.

The draws of each bridge across the Duwamish Waterway shall open on signal, except as follows: (2) The draw of the South Park Bridge, mile 3.8, need not be opened for the passage of vessels from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except, Federal holidays, other than Columbus Day. (3) Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., Monday through Sunday, the South Park Bridge shall open if at least a 12 hour notice is given by telephone or VHF radio to the drawtender at the South Park Bridge. If emergency responders require a bridge opening between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the South Park Bridge shall open within 45 minutes from initial notification to the Fremont Bridge operator. 33 CFR 117.1041(a)(2)-(3)

Southwest Spokane Street Bridge

The low swing bridge under the West Seattle Bridge. Opens on signal, one prolonged blast then three short.
No rush-hour closure is written into the federal rule.
Seattle does not publish a live status for this bridge. Check the West Seattle Bridge instead if you just need to cross.

The following bridges shall open on the specified signals: (1) Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge, mile 0.4, and Southwest Spokane Street bridge, mile 0.3, one prolonged blast followed quickly by three short blasts. 33 CFR 117.1041(b)(1)

What the rules have in common

Every Seattle bridge can hold a lift up to 10 minutes to clear backed-up cars, unless the boat is a tug with a tow. Every weekday rush-hour exception has a size limit, 1,000 tons on the Ship Canal and 5,000 tons on the Duwamish, and a ship over that limit gets its opening no matter the hour. Federal holidays count as weekends, except Columbus Day, which the rule treats as a working day.

Questions

Do Seattle drawbridges open on signal?

Yes. Every one opens on a boat's signal, with weekday rush-hour exceptions for smaller vessels and, on some bridges, notice requirements at night.

What is the 10-minute rule?

A tender may delay an opening up to 10 minutes after a request to clear accumulated road traffic. The delay is not allowed for a vessel towing another.

Which rule has the most exceptions?

Montlake. Its weekday closed hours change with the season and it opens only on the hour and half hour through the early afternoon.

When do Seattle drawbridges open?

Seattle Drawbridges