The Unique Floating Bridge of Seattle – An unusual concept of a bridge of concrete and steel that floats may seem highly uncommon, if not impossible, there’re 20 such bridges around the world, 5 in the U.S. state of Washington alone, of which 4 are the longest floating bridges in the world. Floating bridges, also recognized as pontoon bridges, are generally temporary structures built out of wood during times of emergencies such as war.
Wooden floats and sometimes boats are lashed together and flat planks are laid over creating a roadway, letting men and materials cross bodies of water. Although Pontoon bridges have been used to great benefit in numerous battles throughout history, including the 2nd World War, and during the Iran–Iraq War.
Therefore, the longest enduring floating bridge, Evergreen Point, usually called the SR 520 Bridge, lies across Lake Washington, in Seattle. In fact, it carries the traffic of State Route 520 and is 4,750 meters long. The Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, the 2nd longest bridge in the world, lies across the same lake just a few miles to the south and is 2,020 meters long.
Thus, the question comes to mind why floating bridges? The answer lies in Lake Washington’s complex geographical location. Because the lake bed is too soft for piers of a conventional bridge! However, the other alternative, a suspension bridge, which may fulfill bridge towers the height of Seattle’s Space Needle, would have been too costly.
The concept of a floating bridge across Lake Washington was first suggested by engineer Homer Hadley in the 1930s. Hadley had worked for a firm designing concrete barges during World War I and he recommended the idea of linking hollow concrete barges end-to-end to Lacey V. Murrow, the state’s then-director of highways.
Thus, Hadley’s floating bridge was such a big accomplishment that Washington State adopted the concept for future bridges. However, the 2nd bridge, Evergreen Point, the longest in the world, was opened in 1963. In the honor of the man who first led the concept, the third bridge was named after Homer Hadley. Nowadays, Lake Washington is home to three, and all rank among the five longest floating bridges in the world.
A photograph taken on June, 2012, shows the newly set girders with the SR 520 floating bridge
A photograph taken in June, 2012, shows the newly set girders with the SR 520 floating bridge
Aerial view of Evergreen Point Road, Eastside staging area and floating bridge construction barges. Photo credit Washington State Dept of Transportation @ Flickr
Aerial view of Evergreen Point Road, Eastside staging area, and floating bridge construction barges. Photo credit Washington State Dept of Transportation @ Flickr
The Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, the 2nd longest bridge in the world, lies across the same lake just a few miles to the south, and is 2,020 meters long.
The Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, the 2nd longest bridge in the world, lies across the same lake just a few miles to the south and is 2,020 meters long.
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Atomic Taco at Flickr
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Atomic Taco at Flickr
The third longest floating bridge was built in 1993, replacing a structure that sank during a severe storm. Photo credit Joshua Trujillo www.seattlepi.com
The third-longest floating bridge was built in 1993, replacing a structure that sank during a severe storm. Photo credit Joshua Trujillo www.seattlepi.com
Homer Hadley Floating Bridge and Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge. Photo credit Atmoc Taco-Flickr
Homer Hadley Floating Bridge and Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge. Photo credit Atmoc Taco-Flickr
Homer Hadley Bridge (left) and Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (right). Photo credit Joshua Trujillo seattlepi.com
Homer Hadley Bridge (left) and Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (right). Photo credit Joshua Trujillo seattlepi.com
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Ramanathan Kathiresan @ Flickr
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Ramanathan Kathiresan @ Flickr
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Peter Svensk @ Flickr
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Photo credit Peter Svensk @ Flickr

Source: Amusing Planet
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