AKA: City of Seattle, Department of Transportation, Twelfth Avenue South Bridge, Seattle, WA; City of Seattle, Department of Transportation, Rizal, Dr. Jose, Bridge, Seattle, WA

Structure Type: built works - infrastructure - transportation structures - bridges

Designers: City of Seattle, Office of the Chief Engineer, Thomson, R.H. (firm); Reginald Heber Thomson Sr. (engineer)

Dates: constructed 1911

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12th Avenue South over Dearborn Street
Seattle, WA

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Building History

The area this bridge spans was excavated in 1911-1912, part of a sluicing project undertaken by the City of Seattle. R.H. Thomson (1856-1949), City of Seattle Engineer, hydraulically removed portions of Beacon Hill in order to connect Downtown Seattle with the Rainier Valley to the south. The 12th Avenue South bridge was needed to span what the city sluiced away. Originally, railroad tracks occupied the valley floor under the bridge, but they were removed and the area became a paved street.

Building Notes

The Jose Rizal Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Portions of the steel arched 12th Avenue South Bridge collapsed in 02/1917 due to shifting soils. It was rebuilt that year.

National Register of Historic Places (Listed 1982-07-16): 82004227 NRHP Images (pdf) NHRP Registration Form (pdf)

PCAD id: 7961