October 26, 2000

Novel approach to bridge design

The $10.8 million Novelty Bridge on Northeast 124th Street over the Snoqualmie River was officially dedicated yesterday, marking an end to frustrating detours for local motorists and a new approach to bridge design in King County.

The project is the first one designed through a collaborative effort between the county's Public Art Program and the Road Services Division.

Seattle artist Carolyn Law was chosen through a competitive process to integrate her ideas and art elements into the bridge design. Law worked with design team members from the county and engineers from Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade Douglas. Wilder Construction was the general contractor.

The collaboration brought three elements to the new bridge: a blue wave-shaped rail, four granite pylons at each corner of the bridge to represent gateways and bridge trusses painted so that drivers, pedestrians and bikers will see cool colors on their way to the valley and warm colors on their way toward the city.

The steel-arch bridge replaces a century-old picturesque structure which had been updated to concrete in 1920 but had deteriorated to the point that replacement was the only option. The old bridge had narrow lanes and no shoulders. The new bridge is 623 feet long, with 12-foot lanes for traffic and wide shoulders.

The bridge opened to traffic Sunday.

Law has worked on other public art projects including the Factoria Transfer Station, the Metro Trolley expansion and the Ephrata Transportation Center.