Lake Washington Floating Bridge

The Lake Washington Floating Bridge was dedicated 72 years ago today according to a History Link article - there was lots of celebrating the largest floating structure of its time which cut an hour off the commute time to Seattle.  There was even a surf boarding exhibition (??).

My memories of this bridge include "The Bulge" which was the portion of the bridge that opened for boaters.  This bridge had reversible lanes for high volume traffic times and if you chose the reversible lane you had to negotiate a counter-clockwise swerve directly facing barrier-free on-coming traffic.  It was terrifying.  Unfortunately, none of my postcards give a good glimpse of the bulge which was removed in 1981.  These views are from the Seattle side facing east toward Mercer Island. Officially the bridge is now named "Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge."


"Union Oil company's Natural color Scenes of the West. Lake Washington Bridge, Seattle, is a tribute to the ingenuity of American Engineers. Except for the entrances the bridge is full-floating, being supported by pontoons. A section can be moved to accommodate navigation." postcard mailed 1948


"The World's First Cement Floating Bridge"


"The Lake Washington Floating Bridge, the world's longest pontoon bridge, is the start of U. S. Highway 10 to the East. It takes one from downtown Seattle across Lake Washington toward Snoqualmie Pass. Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen"


"Lake Washington Floating Bridge, Seattle, Wash. This world famous structure carries U. S. Highway 10 across the lake and over the Cascade Mountains by way of Snoqualmie Pass. C-494 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea"


"The Space Needle reigns over the city of Seattle with the business district in the foreground and Queen Anne Hill in the background. Lower view shows Lake Washington floating bridge. C13014. Color by Mike Roberts Berkeley, Calif, 94710"