Looking east from the park underneath the bridge.

On the right is the Lacey V. Murrow Bridge, which carries eastbound traffic. The transition span structures on the bridge were part of the original bridge. The pontoons in between them were replaced after the original bridge sank Thanksgiving weekend 1990 while it was closed for renovations.

On the left is the Homer Hadley Bridge, with the I-90 express lanes in view of the camera.

View east from the bicycle path on the Homer Hadley Bridge. The path continues across the lids on Mercer Island.

Washington State College (now Washington State University) alumnus Lacey V. Murrow was Director of the Department of Highways in 1930's and 1940's. He guided construction of the original Mercer Island Floating Bridge. The bridge was renamed for him in 1967. Incidentally, Murrow was the brother of a more famous W.S.U. alumnus, CBS radio and TV broadcaster Edward R. Murrow.

Exhaust vents on top of the Mercer Island lid.

Local engineer Homer Hadley conceived the idea for the original floating bridge. The original bridge was such a success that tolls were removed in 1949 - only nine years after the bridge opened. When the new westbound bridge was dedicated in 1989 it was named for Hadley. Note the split transition span - the upper level being the westbound lanes and the middle / lower level being the express lanes.

Interstate 90 emerges from the east end of the Mercer Island lid.

Prior to the early 1990's I would have been stranding smack in the middle of the freeway. You wouldn't know it from this picture, but I'm standing on top of the freeway. When Mercer Island residents were asked for input on the I-90 project, they requested that a lid be put on the freeway. The lid provided added park space for Mercer Island residents, adding acres of ballfields, tennis courts, picinic areas, and jogging paths where there were none before. Traffic noise cannot be heard from the lid.

Looking east across Mercer Island from the top of the lid.