New SR 520 Floating Bridge

[jakeroot]

The Montlake interchange's HOV ramps will open September 16:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15zUnb5i0g

I would love to have seen a mini roundabout instead of an all-way stop, especially when the all-way stop is surrounded by traffic lights. Would not surprise me if people consistently perform "California" stops when they can see the traffic light is green at E Lake Washington Blvd and are looking to make the light.

For the westbound movement towards northbound Montlake, does anyone know if it's meant to be a triple right turn, where the HOV right turn and off-ramp double right turn happen simultaneous with one-another? Having an extra phase to separate them does not seem like a good idea, but having two separate roadways merge mid-intersection isn't too common even with straight-ahead traffic, much less turning traffic.

[Bruce]

Lots of fresh aerial photos from WSDOT: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/albums/72157712483174662/with/54007640905

[pderocco]

I drove this bridge about a month ago, since I hadn't driven it since the 90s and it's now a completely different bridge. I drove it late in the evening, and it was pitch dark, which seemed odd, since it's customary to at least decorate a long bridge with nice lights, if only for the view from shore. But when I look at it in GSV, I see that there are what look like pedestrian lights at regular intervals. Are they not using them yet?

[Bruce]

I drove this bridge about a month ago, since I hadn't driven it since the 90s and it's now a completely different bridge. I drove it late in the evening, and it was pitch dark, which seemed odd, since it's customary to at least decorate a long bridge with nice lights, if only for the view from shore. But when I look at it in GSV, I see that there are what look like pedestrian lights at regular intervals. Are they not using them yet?

The trail on the north side of the bridge is lit up, as are the "sentinels" at each end of the floating section/highrises (sometimes in commemorative colors). There were complaints about the lighting, in fact.