Today in history, on September 12, 1993, the Lacey V. Murrow floating bridge was opened to traffic in Seattle. It was the finale of a three-year, $93 million reconstruction of the original structure. In 1940, it opened as the first floating bridge in Seattle and the first built with reinforced concrete pontoons. In 1993, it opened as the final piece of the I-90 highway linking Seattle to Boston. It spans Lake Washington to connect Seattle with its eastern suburbs.

In 1990, engineers began construction on the Lacey V. Murrow Bridge to bring it up to modern-day highway standards. On Thanksgiving weekend, though, a disaster changed it to a reconstruction project. Workers were using hydro demolition, but contaminated water in the high-pressure jets couldn’t legally drain into Lake Washington. Officials determined that the pontoons were over-engineered for the bridge and could contain the wastewater temporarily. The watertight hatch doors were removed for convenience. That weekend, a significant storm hit, further flooding the pontoons. One sunk and took the rest with it; there was no way to disconnect the cables in an emergency.

The bridge had to be entirely rebuilt. Fortunately, there were no injuries since the road was closed to traffic and workers were off for the holiday. The original structure was considered an engineering marvel, and the new one improved the design. The reconstruction project was not just about restoring the bridge but also about enhancing its safety. New safety protocols and maintenance plans were implemented, ensuring that the bridge was not just a marvel but also a safe and reliable mode of transportation.