Got this update a few minutes ago from our contact with the city:
A large Coast Guard vessel has just made its way eastbound/inbound through the Ballard Locks and is heading for the Ballard Bridge. The 1,000 ton vessel will require both the Ballard and Fremont Bridges to open for its passage – and during that time, the two bridges will be closed for vehicle traffic. Estimated time for passage at the Ballard Bridge is 4:15 p.m. and Fremont Bridge at approximately 4:40 p.m. Motorists should plan for delays or alter their routes.
If you are a motorist, you should avoid those bridges at those times. If you are a swimmer, you should stick close to shore.
Fremont bridge went up right on schedule. The vessel just passed the Aurora bridge & is entering Lake Union now. No traffic backups on 34th. yay!
Question is – what are the Coasties doing in Lake Union? No jurisdiction in the lake (that’s Seattle Police territory).
Sounds like an invasion (sort of like slow black-helicopters);
Alert Glenn Beck!!!
@John: As a former Coastie, Lake Union is the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction on the federal level. I was a pollution investigator at Sector Seattle and our jurisdictional boundary ended at the Montlake Bridge. East of that is EPA’s jurisdiction.
Isn’t there a dry dock on Lake Union still?
There are several Dry docks on Lake Union. Both Northlake Shipyard (Wallingford) and Lake Union Drydock (Eastlake) have them.