Travel & Photography

Seattle’s Floating Bridges are a True Modern Marvel of Civil Engineering

Learning about and exploring one of Seattle’s iconic landmarks

A sweeping twilight view of Lake Washington and the floating I-90 twin bridges (anyone notice anything else interesting in the sky?)— all photos by JoAnn Ryan

I first began to wonder about them as I gazed out from a cozy loft high up in the Seattle suburbs where I’m spending a month house and pet sitting. From this vantage point, I have an impeccable view of the belly portion, if you will, of sprawling Lake Washington — the picturesque body of water that hugs the eastern edge of the city. The water lies calm and tranquil as small waves lap lazily at the shoreline. To the south slightly is Mercer Island and directly across is the city of Bellevue.

View of Bellevue, WA from Seattle

Slightly to the south, as well, are two bridges, not just one as I’d initially thought, that make up the I-90 connection between Seattle and Mercer Island, known as the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (eastbound) and the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge (westbound).

“The (Murrow) bridge is an official landmark of the city of Seattle, as well as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.” (*²)