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May 6, 2015

Divers to replace I-90 bridge cables

By JOURNAL STAFF

[enlarge]
Cables pass through ports in the bridge pontoons.

Photos from WSDOT [enlarge]
This frayed anchor cable was removed in 2010.

Divers from Orion Marine on Monday will start a $3.4 million project to replace 21 frayed and corroded anchor cables holding the Interstate 90 floating bridge in place on Lake Washington.

“Worn cables pose a higher risk of breaking during a windstorm,” said Archie Allen, Washington State Department of Transportation bridge superintendent, in a news release. “Broken cables increase the risk that the bridge could be damaged, resulting in a long-term closure. Regular inspections and replacement help keep the bridge open and safe for travelers.”

The three-month project is replacing cables that are 24 to 29 years old. Most of the work will take place underwater or inside the pontoons.

Divers will descend as deep as 180 feet to disconnect the cables from the anchors in the lake bed. Each cable will then be winched to the surface. Next, a diver will descend with a new cable and secure it to the anchor. One cable will be replaced at a time.

The cables being replaced range in length from 310 to 750 feet. The bridge is secured by 108 cables.

A similar project in 2010 replaced 30 anchor cables on the I-90 and state Route 520 floating bridges.




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