Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge


caption = The twin spans of the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge (left) and the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (right), looking east toward Mercer Island
carries = I-90
crosses = Lake Washington
locale = Seattle
maint = Washington State DOT
design = Pontoon bridge
length = convert|5811|ft|m|abbr=on
open = June 4, 1989The Third Lake Washington Bridge, officially the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, is the fifth longest floating bridge in the world, at 5,811 feet (1772 m). It carries the westbound and reversible express lanes of Interstate 90 across Lake Washington between Mercer Island, Washington and Seattle. Most local residents have never heard of the Hadley name and refer to both bridges together as "the Mercer Island Bridge". Some also refer to the "Old" and "New" Mercer Island Bridges, but these terms are ambiguous because the Murrow bridge was rebuilt after the Hadley bridge was completed.

History

The bridge was built in 1989 and is named for Homer More Hadley, who designed the bridge's companion span, the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge.

When the bridge was built parallel to the existing span, a pair of reversible HOV lanes was set up to accommodate the flow of traffic between Seattle and the Eastside (westbound in the morning, eastbound in the evenings). Unfortunately, because the lanes are reversible, this pushes all the HOV traffic going on one side (depending on what time it is) to the general purpose lanes. This has been a huge problem with the increasing amount of congestion in Seattle, Mercer Island and Bellevue. WSDOT is assessing the situation presently and is planning to convert the lanes to two-way traffic. Half of this project is funded, and the first phase is estimated completion in 2009.

Usage

The bridge includes two reversible lanes, which normally carry westbound traffic on weekday mornings and eastbound traffic at other times. Use of the reversible express lanes is restricted to HOV traffic, except for vehicles traveling to and from Mercer Island.

With a total of five traffic lanes and three full-sized shoulders, the Third Lake Washington Bridge is the widest floating bridge in the world. [" [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/46D92108-DD55-442F-81B8-285AA25F34EE/4712/quarterly_Summer2004.pdf Uniquely Northwest: Washington State is home to many of world's amazing floating bridges] ." "Hood Canal Bridge News", Summer 2003, p. 2.]

ee also

*Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge

References

External links

* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Bridges/i90/I-90.htm Bridge Camera, includes some weather information]