[4] In 1945, one of Seattle's oldest freeways (the Spokane Street Viaduct) connected the bridge to Beacon Hill.

Prior to the construction of Interstate 5, the viaduct was separated from the bridge by the main north-south corridor, U.S. Route 99.

A 1968 Forward Thrust ballot measure included $16.7 million in funding for the bridge, largely to receive votes from West Seattle residents.

Despite the 68 percent support in the 1968 ballot measure, the state withdrew its urban streets money due to the scandal.

Tiemann also quipped, "Short of a tug knocking it down (which could trigger federal special bridge replacement funds), there is nothing else.

"[5] In March 1978, several prominent West Seattle residents filed a petition to organize a secession referendum, with the hopes of finding state funding for a new bridge to serve their independent city.

[6] The secession campaign was required to gather 29,000 signatures for a ballot measure, but were unable to meet the threshold before the northern or westbound drawbridge was permanently closed and all east-west traffic was funneled over the southern span.

While federal lawmakers were opposed to appropriating funds to a high-level bridge, Seattle City Council member Jeanette Williams, who served on the council from 1970 to 1989, lobbied Congress for the bridge and successfully secured funds with help from Senator Warren Magnuson.

[citation needed] The West Seattle Bridge was closed in March 2020 after cracks in the underside were found to be growing rapidly, necessitating a major repair amid the COVID-19 pandemic.