World’s longest floating bridge ‘fully functioning’, more work lays ahead

It was a quiet opening for the new 520 floating bridge on Monday.

After crews finished their work, about four hours ahead of time, the state opened the eastbound and westbound lanes of the 520 bridge.

KIRO Radio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan says there was no fanfare or celebration, it was opened around 1:30 a.m., after all.

Related: State says goodbye to the old 520 floating bridge

“Now we have a fully-functioning world’s longest floating bridge,” Washington State Department of Transportation spokesperson Steve Peer said.

The bridge was completely closed over the weekend as crews finished routing both directions of traffic from the old bridge to the new one. That work took about 51 hours, according to Peer.

Drivers have been using the westbound lanes of the bridge for about two weeks.

Sullivan says one of the most noticeable changes is the transition from Montlake to the bridge. The bridge now opens up to three lanes, including an HOV lane, in both directions.

Though the bridge is open, there’s plenty of work left to do. Along with demolishing the old bridge, the state still has to build the new west approach bridge that will carry three lanes of traffic to Montlake and connect a bicycle and pedestrian path from the Eastside to Seattle. Demolition of the old 520 bridge will begin Monday.

Travelers are cruising across the new span of the 520 Floating Bridge this morning! #traveltimes
SEA-Bell =11mins pic.twitter.com/KQvAkB3ljW

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) April 25, 2016

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