SR 520 Drawspan Opening

[Fijahh]

The lake is very deep, 108 ft (33 m) on average and 214 ft (65 m) at its deepest point. It is over a mile wide at the point where SR520 crosses it, and harbors very strong currents. The two highrise portions of the bridge near the shores are indeed on piers, the floating section of the bridge traverses the central (deep) part of the lake.

[JetMechMA]

Floating bridge?.....what?.....are you people nuts? Why not just use piers and be done with it?

[SamAltenberger]

@JetMechMA The lake is extremely deep, so putting piers on the central part of the bridge wouldn't work very well.

[JetMechMA]

@SamAltenberger San Mateo bridge California has a clearance above the water of 135 feet and the shipping channel is at least 50 feet deep. The footings go a good deal deeper. Probably 200 feet of pier height altogether. ?

[superdave98008]

Wow look at all those state employees standing around.

[StrongArmVideo]

@superdave98008 They aren't state employees, just the general public on a tour during the annual inspection.

[plasmapuppy]

Coooool.... never seen it open before. Always wondered how it did it.