For racing, cruising, and day sailors looking to exit the Hiram M. Chittenden Lock, please be advised of the following maintenance announcement that the Salmon Bay Railroad Bridge will be closed in November and that there is only 43 feet of vertical clearance.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) announced that they will be performing heavy rail maintenance/construction on the Salmon Bay Railroad Bridge, mile 0.1, across the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle, Washington. 

The construction work requires the draw of the subject bridge to be closed from November 2 to November 25, 2026. This draw closure corresponds with the USACE’s large Hiram M. Chittenden Lock closure. The Coast Guard intends to approve a temporary deviation to the operating schedule that governs the Salmon Bay Railroad Bridge from 0600 on November 2 to 1600 on November 25. The draw will be able to open on November 14-15 if a 24-hour notice is given to the bridge operator. 

The bridge provides 43 feet of vertical clearance in the closed-to-navigation position at mean higher high water. Vessels that do not require a bridge opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge during this closure period. The subject bridge will not be able to open for emergencies, and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. 

For more information on this draw bridge closure contact Travis Woodley at travis.woodley@bnsf.com or (682) 978-3311.