Opening Day For The New Manette Bridge

 Today the new Manette Bridge opened. Once again the downtown Bremerton and the Manette community are joined by a bridge. I rode the bicycle down to witness the event and walk across the bridge. The day was spectacular! The weather warm and sunny.

 The new bridge is built to modern standards and provides plenty of room for all forms of traffic.

 One of the few times that the bridge will ever be this empty.

 The crowd waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony. It was reported that about 400 people attended.

 And away they go! Pedestrians were given about a half hour to walk the bridge. I heard one woman say that she crossed it four times.

 The old bridge is being demolished. This will go on for some time and everything down to the bottom of the narrows will be removed. The old bridge is in poor shape. Many have suggested leaving it up for non motorized traffic. But the footings are eroding away and the steel construction is rusting badly. Continual maintenance would be expensive. So after 81 years, it is time to say goodbye!

 The parade of first cars to cross from Manette to Bremerton. The first people to drive across were chosen by lottery. I rode my bicycle back to Manette.

And some motorcycles too.