Can You See Any Part of the Space Needle from the I-90 Bridge?

Jay Jennings · May 31, 2012

I was born in Seattle, I lived there for years about a decade ago, and I just wrote something where the MC sees the Space Needle while driving across the I-90 bridge.

My wife asked if you can really see it (she's also a Seattle native) and now I'm wondering if I just made it up.

Anybody drive that regularly who can tell me? I tried using street view on Google maps but the far off view wasn't clear enough to see.

Thanks!

Jay

Aerial · May 31, 2012

I've been away from Seattle for about five years now, but I don't think so. There's a rise of land at the west end of the bridge-- doesn't the highway go through a tunnel there?-- that I think obscures any view.

Hopefully someone who's a current resident can come along and say for sure. I never drove 90 as a regular part of my commute. Most of my memory of that stretch is the part going across Mercer Island rather than the over-water sections.

Aerial

rainsmom · May 31, 2012

Ha! I read this during the time my husband was driving to work, so I called him and asked him. He said no, he couldn't see it. The only place he'd be close was right after coming out of the Mercer tunnel / Mercer Lid, but the ridge is just too high.

Jay Jennings · May 31, 2012

Thanks to both of you -- my wife was so smug when she found out she was right!

And that part of the story has now been changed...

Jay

Drachen Jager · May 31, 2012

You know, in the future you can just go to google maps, and use google streetview.

Unfortunately it was a hazy day when they drove through there, hard to see much of anything at a distance, but you can also click 'photos' on so you can see pictures taken from that location.

Jay Jennings · May 31, 2012

Drachen Jager said:
You know, in the future you can just go to google maps, and use google streetview.

Yeah, I tried Streetview. Then I went to YouTube and found some videos of people driving into Seattle on i-90 and watched enough of them that I got freakin' car sick!

So then I just asked here.

Jay

Drachen Jager · May 31, 2012

Ahh, nevermind then.

LoopyLinde · Jun 1, 2012

No you can't. There are a couple of hills in the way, plus, it's a floating bridge and low, near the water.

Karen Junker · Jun 2, 2012

I would have thought you could see it from the beginning of the east end of the bridge, where it connects to Mercer Island -- because that's up higher than most of the bridge. Now I'm going to have to have someone drive me across there so I can find out for sure.

Jay Jennings · Jun 3, 2012

Karen Junker said:
I would have thought you could see it from the beginning of the east end of the bridge, where it connects to Mercer Island -- because that's up higher than most of the bridge. Now I'm going to have to have someone drive me across there so I can find out for sure.

Ha! Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I knew the floating part would be too low because of the ridge between the bridge and the Space Needle, but thought maybe back where it crosses Mercer Island maybe.

No big deal, the MC now mentions the skyscrapers in the distance rather than the Space Needle. Not as Seattley, but I don't have to worry about accuracy.

Jay

PS - But if you *do* find a spot, right between a couple trees, where you can see it, let me know.

Karen Junker · Jun 3, 2012

I am almost certain you can see it when you are over the bridge and in Seattle, right where I-90 curves for the entrance to go North on I-5. Today is not a good day to drive it, since 520 is closed for the weekend, so it will be backed up -- but I'll definitely be driving it on the 10th and I can get back to you then.

LoopyLinde · Jun 4, 2012

Karen Junker said:
I am almost certain you can see it when you are over the bridge and in Seattle, right where I-90 curves for the entrance to go North on I-5.

Maybe. I'm more familiar with 520 but the space needle is on the other side of downtown from I 90. I would think the buildings would block the view at that point.

I'm curious now to hear what you see, after you take your drive. Still think I'm right, but happy to be corrected if not.

Karen Junker · Jun 10, 2012

Drove I-90 today and you can't see the space needle from anywhere at all along the bridge or the curve coming into town. From the bridge, the most visible things are the TV towers on Queen Anne hill and the Selig Tower -- the tallest bldg. in Seattle.

Jay Jennings · Jun 10, 2012

Karen Junker said:
Drove I-90 today and you can't see the space needle from anywhere at all along the bridge or the curve coming into town. From the bridge, the most visible things are the TV towers on Queen Anne hill and the Selig Tower -- the tallest bldg. in Seattle.

Okay, thanks for the verification, Karen.

I changed the Space Needle glimpse in my book and I also changed the name of the museum to Seattle Museum of Art, which is fictional, so that I don't have to worry about the layout of the rooms where the big heist is happening.

Fiction rulez!

Jay

LoopyLinde · Jun 11, 2012

Karen Junker said:
Drove I-90 today and you can't see the space needle from anywhere at all along the bridge or the curve coming into town. From the bridge, the most visible things are the TV towers on Queen Anne hill and the Selig Tower -- the tallest bldg. in Seattle.

Thanks Karen. I was getting almost curious enough to take the drive myself. A pain since I now live in Lynnwood.

Can You See Any Part of the Space Needle from the I-90 Bridge?

Jay Jennings

Aerial

There is no spoon.

rainsmom

Feeling like an old timer

Jay Jennings

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

Jay Jennings

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

LoopyLinde

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

Jay Jennings

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

LoopyLinde

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

Jay Jennings

LoopyLinde