Mark Clark Bridge

The Mark Clark Bridge was a girder bridge that carried a State Route 532 across the Stillaguamish River between Stanwood, Washington, and Camano Island. It was the only form of road access to Camano Island from 1950 until 2010, when it was demolished. The bridge was named for Mark W. Clark, a decorated Army officer who spent time on Camano Island. The water surrounding Camano Island is too shallow for ferry service, which made this bridge a critical link for island residents and visitors.[2]

Mark Clark Bridge
Coordinates48.240266°N 122.383189°W / 48.240266; -122.383189
Carries SR 532
CrossesStillaguamish River
LocaleStanwood, Washington
Maintained byWashington State Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
MaterialConcrete, steel
Total length487 feet (148 m)[1]
History
OpenedJuly 23, 1950
ClosedAugust 17, 2010
Location

The bridge replaced an earlier swing bridge that opened in 1909 and was part of the first highway between Stanwood and Camano Island.[3] Shortly after the highway was incorporated into the state highway system in 1945, a $615,000 replacement was planned by the state government at the request of Stanwood, Camano Island, and the former town of East Stanwood.[4] It was dedicated on July 23, 1950, and was connected to a new highway bypassing Stanwood and East Stanwood.[4]

Replacement

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) began construction of a new Stillaguamish River bridge in the summer of 2009. The Mark Clark Bridge was found to be too narrow and vulnerable in the event of a major earthquake.

The new bridge was designed with a width of 56 feet (17 m) to accommodate a four-lane highway, while initially configured for two-lane traffic, and include a wide shoulder for bicyclists and pedestrians.[5]

On August 17, 2010, the new Camano Gateway Bridge opened to traffic.[6] As a result, the Mark Clark bridge was closed to traffic and later demolished.[7]

References
  1. Bridge & Structures Office (April 2010). "WSDOT Bridge List (M 23-09.01)" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 405. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  2. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/305EBF09-DA1B-414E-A08A-E94C3CF1767E/0/SR532Folio62207sm.pdf%5B%5D
  3. Fiege, Gale (August 12, 2010). "Drivers, your bridge to Camano Island awaits". The Everett Herald. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  4. Essex, Alice (1998). The Stanwood Story, Volume III. Stanwood Camano News. pp. 30–31. OCLC 40399950.
  5. New bridge, safer SR 532 in store for Stanwood and Camano Island residents, Washington State Department of Transportation, July 1, 2009, retrieved 2009-08-12
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". www.scnews.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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