October 2, 2022 - Specular Bridge

 

A Sunday morning stroll through the Washington Park Arboretum and under the Evergreen Floating Bridge provides some unique views.

 

The original 520 bridge opened in 1963.  The Evergreen Floating Bridge, generally called the 520 Bridge and never the Governor Albert Rosellini bridge, was rebuilt in 2016.  At 7710 feet it is the largest floating bridge in the world.  Just to the east of the columns in the top photo the road surface slopes down to 77 concrete pontoons that support the 6 lanes of traffic 20' above the surface of the 220' deep Lake Washington.  

While the bridge is open, construction will continue through 2030 enhancing this portion of State Route 520.  The fabric seen hanging down below the underside of the bridge and many of the temporary columns and access bridges will eventually be removed.