SR 520 bridge closed this weekend to shift WB lanes onto new floating bridge



SEATTLE -- The State Route 520 floating bridge will be closed this weekend as traffic officials prepare to partially open the new bridge.

The bridge will be closed from Montlake Blvd. in Seattle to 92nd Ave NE on the eastside, from 11 p.m. Friday, April 8 to 5 a.m. Monday April 11.

Starting Monday, drivers will be on the new floating bridge heading westbound only.

Q13 traffic reporter Adam Gehrke warns of a potential bottleneck as westbound drivers crossing the bridge learn of the change. Once across the bridge, traffic goes from two general purpose lanes and an HOV/transit lane back to two general purpose lanes.

Eastbound drivers will remain on the current SR 520 bridge for another two weeks. More closures are planned the weekend of April 23-24 to transition drivers onto the eastbound lanes.

According to WSDOT, the old floating bridge will be taken apart later this year. The pontoons will be towed away and reused for other marine purposes.

Last weekend, the bridge was closed for a grand opening celebration that brought out more than 50,000 walkers, runners and cyclists.