East Channel Bridge, Road bridge at Lake Washington, United States
The East Channel Bridge is a road bridge over the east channel of Lake Washington, connecting Mercer Island to Bellevue as part of the Interstate 90 corridor. It is made up of two separate steel structures placed side by side, each one carrying traffic in a single direction.
A first bridge at this location opened in 1923, serving early car traffic across the east channel. The current steel spans date from 1981 onward, with the westbound structure completed before the eastbound one.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail runs along the westbound span, giving walkers and cyclists open views of the lake on both sides. The path sits close enough to the water that you can hear it below as you cross.
The bridge carries Interstate 90 traffic and is free to use for drivers. Walkers and cyclists can use the Greenway trail that runs along the westbound structure instead of the road lanes.
The two steel structures of the bridge are fully independent from each other, even though they sit right next to one another. This means that one side can be repaired or worked on without stopping traffic flowing in the other direction.
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