Look ma, it floats!

Seattle Times photo

We build 'em big in Seattle.  Boeing 747s, of course.  But also bridges.

When I started graduate school at the University of Washington, the second floating bridge across Lake Washington had just been opened, tying the University to the Bellevue-Kirkland area on the east side.  The bridge was usually called the "Evergreen Point" bridge.  The toll was 20 cents, until the bridge's bonds eventually were paid off and the toll plaza dismantled.

Since then, Seattle has prospered, as have its eastern suburbs.  The bridge, eventually re-named after a former Washington governor, Albert Rosselini (but sadly now popularly called the "520 bridge" after the state highway that crosses over it), became a virtual parking lot during rush hours.  And with Microsoft's growth, rush hours grew ever longer.

Re-imposition of tolls a short time ago -- now maxing out at $5.55 during rush hour, if your car isn't equipped with an electronic pass -- has helped alleviate the traffic jams.  Folks use the "other" floating bridge, which carries I-90 a couple of miles to the south, if they are willing to accept inconvenience in exchange for evading toll charges.

But all that changes this month when the new, bigger and better, Rosselini floating bridge ("the 520 bridge") replaces the old one.  The shiny new bridge will carry three lanes in each direction rather than two.  It has a wide and commodious bicycle/pedestrian lane, physically separated from motor traffic.  It has view points, and ornamental pylons.  And -- the road bed is built much higher above its water level pontoons.  A draw span no longer will be necessary to facilitate shipping.  Even more important, storms will no longer wash waves over the roadbed, forcing the closing of the bridge.

To me, this is all academic.  I hardly ever use the bridge, despite its Seattle terminus's being but a short distance from my house.  But I'm pleased to have the World's Longest Floating Bridge virtually in my front yard.  That's right.  At 7,710 feet, it will undisputedly be the floating bridge champion.

To celebrate, the Department of Transportation threw open the bridge to the pedestrian public today, using a fleet of 51 city buses to ferry waves of happy celebrants from various parts of nearby areas onto the bridge.  Along with half of the Seattle area, I can now claim the distinction of having crossed Lake Washington on foot, in both directions, on the first day that such a feat became possible.  The bridge, all 7,710 feet of it, was so crowded as to make walking something of an ordeal.  Concessions of all sorts -- most notably food -- appealed to everyone.  Somehow, buying a hamburger on a floating bridge was more exciting than buying the same item on solid land.

It was fun, it was exciting, it diverted us from thoughts of Trump, but the bridge still is not quite complete even now.  But the DOT promises that motorists can look forward to its opening in a couple of weeks.

Let's face it, of course.  It's no Golden Gate Bridge, despite its displaying a few ornamental pylons.  But does San Francisco's bridge float?  I think not.