Portage Bay’s new non-cabled bridge design

The “land bridge” from the Montlake lid looks way more fun than it can possibly ever be

The state’s final design recommendations for the westside components of the 520 replacement project include a simplified design for a new Portage Bay Bridge that drops previous plans for fancy cables and includes a “land bridge” as part of the planned Montlake lid that will help link the area for better pedestrian and bicycle access across the highway, planners say.

UPDATE: The state wants your feedback on the plans — you can take the survey here through February 13th.

The entire, massive, 166-page WSDOT “final concept design” report for the projects is below. The Seattle Times took an in-depth look at the update here. CHS reported on the westside components including a smaller than originally planned Montlake lid and the start of construction on some of the projects here in September.

The replacement projects are part of a massive overhaul of the 520 floating bridge. Construction on the floating bridge work continues. In March, CHS reported on the start of work on the so-called West Approach Bridge North section of the bridge. The $300 million federally funded westbound section will have three lanes and include a pedestrian and bike path that will eventually connect to a path all the way across Lake Washington. Seattle’s side of things includes more than a billion dollars in 520 replacement projects yet to be funded.

Despite a cheaper Portage Bay Bridge, the new reports predict the cost of the unfunded westside sections will come in at $1.57 billion pushing the total 520 project cost to nearly $4.5 billion. But first, lawmakers must pass a new state transportation plan in Olympia.

The full WSDOT design report is below.

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