Spokane Street Bridge

On March 23, 2020 the Spokane Street (West SeattleHigh Rise Bridge) was closed indefinitely for repairs and traffic restrictions placed on the low level swing bridge limited to freight, emergency vehicles and city buses. Accelerating cracking near the center span of the high rise bridge is to blame and who knows when this bridge will open. I sure don't. I do recall about ten years ago an outbound derrick barge struck this area of bridge which was remarkable considering the 140' water clearance. For years afterward you could see the scrape marks the the tip of crane boom left behind on the concrete.

Also in some more weirdness, on March 8, 2005 a man drove his black Volkswagen Jetta westbound on the opened lower swing bridge around stopped traffic and through the barriers and face planted the car into the gravel below and died.

This bridge is the replacement for the bascule bridge rammed on June 11, 1978 by the freighter "Chavez" being piloted by Captain Rolf Neslund. In 1980 Rolf disappeared and in 1985 his wife stood trial for his murder. His body was never found.

In 1991 I attended the Grand Opening Ceremony of the new swing and drove our 1978 "Camel Hair Yellow" Chevy Impala across bridge with the wife and kidneys, I think I still have free poster they were handing out at the event. Hmmm..It might be out in the garage.

From Wikipedia:

"Each 7,500-short-ton (6,800 t) leaf of the bridge floats on a 100-inch (2.5 m) steel barrel in hydraulic oil. It is claimed[1] to be the only bridge of its type in the world and it has received several awards for its innovation, including the Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1992." Very unique indeed!