December 2, 2012 - Bridging the Cut

  

The designer of the 344 foot long Montlake Bridge, Carl Gould, was one of the original architects of the University of Washington.  He incorporated a Gothic style similar to that of many of the buildings at the nearby university into the towers and elements of the double-bascule bridge that provides 48 foot vertical clearance for the boats that ply the ship canal below.  Provided it isn't during rush hour, vessels needing greater clearance may request that it be opened.

The US Army Corps of Engineers completed the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1917.  It joined Lake Washington with Lake Union and lowered the water level of Lake Washington nine feet.  Though piers and abutments for a bridge were put in place in 1914 as part of the construction of the canal, and plans for a bridge were drawn up in 1916, the bridge was not built until 1925.  The Montlake Bridge was the last of the four double-bascule bridges over ship canal to be built.  

In November of 1920, the University of Washington football team hosted a team from Dartmouth for the first game ever to be played at the newly built Husky Stadium.  A graduate manager for the team created a temporary bridge set on barges to allow football fans to attend without having to cross the University Bridge to the west.  Next September thousands of football fans will cross the 88 year old bridge on their way to the very first game of the newly renovated Husky Stadium.

Looking east down the ship canal to Lake Washington.