Ship Canal bridges: Ballard, Fremont, University and Montlake

Every boat between Puget Sound and Lake Washington passes the Ballard Locks and then up to four bridges: Ballard Bridge, Fremont Bridge, University Bridge, Montlake Bridge. Ballard, Fremont and University share one federal rule. Montlake has its own, with longer weekday hours and a clock-only window in the afternoon.

Fremont is the lowest and opens most. A boat that clears Ballard may still need Fremont. University Bridge has no live feed, the one gap in the canal.

The shared rule

• 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.

Montlake's rule

• 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.

Questions