Pontoon launch delayed up to 6 weeks
The launch of pontoons built in Aberdeen for the new State Route 520 floating bridge will be delayed so that crews have time to make repairs after damaged concrete was found in one of the pontoons.
Work is planned on four of the six concrete pontoons currently under construction and is expected to take four to six weeks to complete. As a result, the completed pontoons are not expected to launch until July or August. The original launch date was at the beginning of June.
The Washington State Department of Transportation and Kiewit-General are working to find the cause of the damage. Other SR 520 floating bridge construction will continue on pontoons in Tacoma, on anchors in Kenmore and bridge supports on the east side of Lake Washington.
“We have a plan, and by making these repairs and modifications before the pontoons leave Aberdeen, we can assure that the new SR 520 floating bridge will safely carry traffic for 75 years or more,” said Julie Meredith, WSDOT SR 520 program director.
It is unknown how much the repairs will cost or how costs will be assigned.
