Not for small boats. The hours differ by bridge, and big ships get through at any time.
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Join the iOS beta Android coming soonEach Seattle bridge has weekday hours when it does not have to open for boats under a size limit. The limit is 1,000 gross tons on the Ship Canal and 5,000 on the Duwamish. That covers nearly every pleasure boat and most working boats. A freighter, a large tug with a tow, or a research ship gets its opening at any hour.
| Bridge | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Ballard Bridge, Fremont Bridge, University Bridge | 7 to 9 a.m. | 4 to 6 p.m. |
| Montlake Bridge, summer | 7 to 9 a.m. | 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Montlake Bridge, Sept to April | 7 to 10 a.m. | 3:30 to 7 p.m. |
| First Avenue South Bridge | 6 to 9 a.m. | 3 to 6 p.m. |
| South Park Bridge | 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. | 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. |
| Southwest Spokane Street Bridge | No rush-hour exception in the rule | |
Monday through Friday only. Federal holidays count as weekends, except Columbus Day. Montlake's summer hours run April 30 to September 1.
The gap between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. is when the Ship Canal bridges do most of their lifting. Montlake adds a twist there too: from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. it opens only on the hour and half hour, so a boat that arrives at 1:05 waits until 1:30.
Yes, for a vessel over the size limit, 1,000 gross tons on the Ship Canal or 5,000 on the Duwamish, or a tug towing one. Those openings are rare but they happen.
No. On federal holidays the bridges open on signal all day. Columbus Day is the exception and is treated as a normal weekday.
Montlake, from September to April: 7 to 10 a.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m., six and a half hours.
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