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SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project - Stormy Conditions, Bridge Damage and Repairs Gallery

Built in the 1960s, without the benefit of today's design standards, the Evergreen Point Bridge and the Portage Bay Bridge are vulnerable to windstorms and earthquakes and are at risk of collapse.

If either of these bridges or their approach structures were to collapse, it could cause serious injury or loss of life, and would overwhelm all major regional highways with re-routed traffic.

The project will replace all existing bridges including the Portage Bay Bridge and Evergreen Point floating bridge with safer bridges that are designed to withstand earthquakes and windstorms.

There are 20 photos in this photo gallery.

Stormy Weather

 Mid span of the floating bridge during a 2006 windstorm.  Crews close the floating bridge to traffic during high winds.  The bridge is closed to traffic during a winter storm.  Waves batter the south side of the floating bridge during a storm in February 2007.  Crews open the drawspan to relieve pressure from wind and waves.
2006
Windstorm		 Facing West Facing East Close Up
Waves		 Open
Drawspan
 Seattle commuters drive over the floating bridge on a windy morning.  Waves leap over the floating bridge deck during heavy traffic.  Wind whips Lake Washington into white-capped waves in the distance.  Waves crashing against Evergreen Point Bridge during a storm, 1971.
Stormy
Commute		 Leaping
Waves		 White Caps 1971 Storm


Bridge Damage and Repairs

 The inside of a damaged hollow bridge support column.  A torn anchor cable found during a routine bridge inspection.  An up-close view of a repaired crack inside a floating pontoon.  Post-tensioning cable strengthens floating pontoons against earthquake damage.  Post tensioning cable, housed in orange plastic, runs through the inside of each pontoon.  SR 520 bridge drawspan alignment hook torn off during December 2006 storm.
Damaged
Column		 Torn Cable Pontoon
Crack		 Post
Tensioning		 Inside
Pontoon		 Alignment
Hook
 WSDOT surveys the floating bridge deck before an inspection.  Bridge crews inspect the drawspan during a routine maintenance inspection.  A close-up view of the open drawspan.  Crews look for signs of storm damage on the lower deck of the western approach.  Crews repair a damaged column after a 1999 barge crash accident.
Before
Inspection		 Drawspan
Inspection		 Open
Drawspan		 Lower Deck Column
Repair


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