Updated 520 bridge rules could mean fewer commuter headaches
Jul 5, 2012, 2:30 PM | Updated: 3:58 pm
When you get held up trying to cross the 520 bridge because the drawspan is letting boats through, it’s Maritime law that’s really keeping you from crossing Lake Washington.
“Federal law requires a bridge that spans a navigable waterway to give access to boats, and I feel like through the history of our country – boats got here first, railroads second and cars are fairly new,” said Bart Treece with the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Now, WSDOT has struck a compromise with the U.S. Coast Guard that will mean fewer headaches for drivers.
During rush hour, commuters will see fewer delays. As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, updated rules prohibit drawspan openings 6:30 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
The new times, an hour-and-a-half more than the previous rules, have been designed to coincide with the bridge’s heaviest trafficked times.
“It’s a balancing act for drivers and boaters and for our construction workers who are building a new bridge,” said Bart Treece.
