What are bridge pontoons?
Pontoons are the foundation of a floating bridge and can take several years to construct. They are large hollow concrete structures designed to supported the weight of the road, plus the cars, trucks and buses that use the bridge daily. Depending on the bridge design, pontoons can be as long as a football field and as tall as a two-story building. How do pontoons float? Despite being heavy concrete structures, pontoons float because the water they displace weighs the same as the pontoons, roadway and traffic they support. Why is pontoon construction important? The SR 520 Pontoon Construction Project is a critical step towards restoring the existing SR 520 bridge as soon as possible in the event of a catastrophic failure. SR 520 is a critical link in the regional transportation system. A catastrophic failure of SR 520 could have severe effects on the regional transportation system and economy. Constructing and storing pontoons now would allow the region to avoid an additional three year
