ANNIVERSARY: 45 years since the infamous West Seattle Bridge collision

(Photo sent by Rose)

The balloons on the recently rescued statue of Rolf Neslund mark the 45th anniversary of what led to the biggest West Seattle Bridge closure yet. On June 11, 1978, Neslund was piloting the freighter Antonio Chavez when it hit the north side of what was at the time the main bridge across the Duwamish River to/from West Seattle. That led to a bridge closure more than twice as long as the one we all recently endured. After the 1978 collision, it was six years until construction was complete on the current high-rise bridge, which was dedicated on July 14, 1984 (so next year will be its 40th anniversary). This city-produced video about the bridge’s history includes historic photos and video, as well as some of the city process that finally resulted in a plan to build the bridge, plus in the final few minutes, the dedication of the “low bridge” in 1991:

So far, no problems have been reported with the high bridge since it reopened nine months ago, following a 2 1/2-year closure.

miws June 11, 2023 (6:24 pm)

I can’t believe this got past me this year, usually, I’m right on top of it. —Mike

cjboffoli June 11, 2023 (8:24 pm)

Mike: At the risk of having you date yourself, were you a West Seattle resident at the time of the collision? Do you have your own memories of the event? (PS: I hope you’re doing well. Always happy to see MIWS in the comments from time to time).
- miws June 12, 2023 (6:27 am)
  
  Christopher, Thank you for your kind words, I indeed have a very particular memory of that day.It was a Sunday, and I decided to go down to Sears at 1sr & Lander. I hopped on a Route 18 bus inbound and as it was coming up the ramp by Fire Station 36, had this flash of thought; “What would happen if something happened to one of the spans that made it unusable? Would they run traffic both ways on the remaining one?” The bus gets topside, and I find out! North span reaching for the sky, jersey barrier moved, two-way traffic on the south span.I was stunned, not only at what I saw but that the thought had come to me on the way up the ramp. The only thing I could think of, barring ESP, was that I had my radio on overnight in bed, and maybe they had done a news report on it that my brain somehow absorbed in some level of sleep. —Mike

DAFFY June 11, 2023 (7:04 pm)

Now I’ve got to find my “Where were you when the ship hit the span?” tee shirt. :-)

Lucy June 11, 2023 (8:37 pm)

My uncle had a “Where were you when the ship hit the span?” Tee shirt. So funny.

rose June 11, 2023 (8:42 pm)

Thanks for sharing that video. That really what a big deal this was and how it was definitely not easy. Thank you Jeanette Williams, you were a true champion!

RyanL June 12, 2023 (7:01 am)

Poor Rolf……..https://www.historylink.org/File/8137

Cranky Westie June 12, 2023 (11:12 am)

Rolf Neslund would make a great film noir character. Did he ram the bridge on purpose? Was there a pay off from the well heeled West Seattle City fathers that he didn’t want to share with Ruth? Is there a suitcase of unmarked bills between here and Lopez Island? Was Rolf Neslund really more DB Cooper than sad sack, alcoholic octogenarian Norwegian ? The case for a Netflix series could be made….

WSB June 12, 2023 (11:33 am)

Write the screenplay!
Ivan Weiss June 12, 2023 (4:53 pm)

After Ruth chopped him up for hamburger, the running joke was: “There’s a little of Rolf in all of us.”

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