About two weeks ago, the I-5 Skagit Bridge suddenly collapsed when a truck with an oversized load struck a girder, setting off a frenzy of media speculation, political statements and general citizen worry.

The event has caused many to wonder aloud about the condition of the state’s overall road infrastructure, reigniting a political discussion that had become sleepy during the legislative session.

It also has residents from around the state, including here in Ballard, asking: Could it happen to our bridge?

After all, the Ballard Bridge and 15th Ave NW as a whole is one of the city’s busiest arterials, acting as a corridor for over 60,000 cars on an average weekday and an important road for freight and industry.

Thankfully, the Ballard Bridge is sturdy and not likely to have any such freak accident, according to Seattle Department of Transportation Roadway Structures Manager John Buswell, who helps overlook upkeep of the bridge. It certainly doesn’t have the same fracture critical point -- where being hit at one point can cause a whole span to collapse -- which proved to spell doom for the Skagit Bridge.

Still, Ballard Bridge isn’t perfect.

Built in 1917, after the completion of the Ship Canal and just a year after the Fremont Bridge was built, the Ballard Bridge still retains many of its original parts. The approach portion was replaced in 1939, 74 years ago. The machinery and electrical controls are some of the only new parts, only being 11 years old.

SDOT Spokesman Rick Sheridan says this means there are some age related deficiencies such as cracks in the concrete, but that overall the bridge is "sound and very safe." In a way, Ballard Bridge’s strength is a testament to its workmanship.

“If you look at the bridge today and if you were here in 1917 and got to see the bridge then, you would say, ‘That’s the same bridge,’” Buswell said.

That’s better than some of the city’s bridges. A report from the Seattle Department of Transportation suggests that Seattle's bridges have a backlog of about $1.8 million, with one in three bridges in such disrepair that they're candidates for replacement.

In a good/fair/poor ranking system, 59 percent of SDOT bridges are in "Good" condition, 36 percent are "Fair," and five percent are "Poor." Ballard Bridge falls in the “Fair” category.

SDOT has been taking measures to improve the Ballard Bridge.

Over the last couple of years, a new paint job has been completed, which helps prevent the steel from corroding. Since the Ballard Bridge is located near Shilshole Bay and Elliott Bay, saltspray can severely corrode the steel if it’s not taken care of, Buswell said. Like how leaving a hammer out overnight can cause it to be rusty and orange in the morning.

In addition, the Ballard Bridge is currently undergoing a seismic retrofit program, which became a priority after the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake rocked Seattle structures. The project, set to be completed in spring of 2014, will cost a total of $15.5 million.

“Its original design, although strong for the weight of vehicles and streetcar … from an earthquake perspective we knew we needed to invest in that,” Buswell said.

Buswell reassured that SDOT maintains their bridges to the highest of their ability, inspecting it once a year and even doing underwater inspections every five or so years, making sure to check out all of the key elements and that nothing wrong is happening.

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