Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge |
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The two spans of the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge (left) and the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (right) in 2016, looking east toward Mercer Island
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| Carries |  I-90 (four westbound lanes) |
| Crosses | Lake Washington |
| Locale | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Maintained by | Washington State Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pontoon bridge |
| Total length | 5,811 ft (1,771 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | June 4, 1989 |
The Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a floating bridge. It's located in Washington state, near the city of Seattle. This bridge is part of Interstate 90, a major highway. It carries cars heading west across Lake Washington, connecting Mercer Island to Seattle.
This floating bridge is one of the longest in the world. It stretches for 5,811 feet (about 1,772 meters). It's also known as the Third Lake Washington Bridge.
Bridge History
The Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge was finished in 1989. It is named after Homer More Hadley. He was an engineer who designed the bridge's partner, the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge. Hadley also designed another bridge called the McMillin Bridge in Pierce County.
When the bridge was first built, it had special lanes. These were called reversible HOV lanes. HOV stands for High-Occupancy Vehicle. These lanes could change direction to help with traffic. In the mornings, they carried cars going west into Seattle. In the evenings, they carried cars going east to the Eastside suburbs.
In 2017, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit made changes. They added HOV lanes to the bridge's westbound side. These changes were made to prepare for a new light rail line.
Light Rail on the Bridge
The new light rail line is called the East Link. It will connect downtown Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond. This light rail will use the old reversible express lanes on the bridge.
The East Link line is expected to open in 2023. It will be the first time a light rail train runs on a floating bridge. This is a big step for public transportation.
How the Bridge is Used
The Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge carries four lanes of traffic going west. This includes one HOV lane for cars with multiple passengers. There is also a path on the north side for people to walk or ride bikes.
Before 2017, the bridge also had two reversible lanes. These lanes usually carried westbound traffic in the morning. At other times, they carried eastbound traffic. Only HOV traffic could use these lanes, except for cars going to or from Mercer Island.
This bridge used to be the widest floating bridge in the world. It had five traffic lanes and three full-sized shoulders. However, a new bridge, the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, was completed in 2016. That new bridge is now the widest floating bridge.
See also
In Spanish: Puente conmemorativo de Homer M. Hadley para niños
