The 520 Bridge is open again after construction crews set 18 huge girders in place at the new Bellevue Way overpass during a weekend closure of the span and part of the freeway, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Crews opened both directions of the highway at 1:30 a.m. Monday, more than three hours before the planned 5 a.m. opening, according to the state.
Each girder at new Bellevue Way overpass weighs up to 271,000 pounds, according to the state. Crews also completed over time-sensitive work.
The Washington State Department of Transportation published a few photos of the weekend's work on its Flickr website. Click here to see more of the construction photos.
Weekend-long closures of State Route 520 will resume in 2013, as none are planned for December, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The 520 closure is related to the $306-million State Route 520 Eastside Transit and HOV project. More information on the Eastside Transit and HOV Project can be found on the WSDOT website.
The completed Medina to Bellevue corridor is scheduled to open to traffic in December 2013. More information about the SR 520 Eastside project is online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/MedinaTo202.
