[5][6] While the bridge originally had an opening span at the center of the bridge to allow a horizontal opening of 202 feet (62 m) for major waterborne traffic, the only boat passages currently are elevated fixed spans at the termini with 29 feet (8.8 m) of vertical clearance.

The eponymous Lacey V. Murrow (1904–1966) was the second director of the Washington State Highway Department and a highly decorated U.S. Air Force officer who served as a bomber pilot in World War II, rising to the rank of brigadier general.

[15][16][17] A 1925 graduate of Washington State College in Pullman, he was the oldest brother of CBS commentator Edward R.

The problems grew worse as the traffic load increased over the years and far outstripped the designed capacity.

The process started because the bridge needed resurfacing and was to be widened by means of cantilevered additions in order to meet the necessary lane-width specifications of the Interstate Highway System.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) decided to use hydrodemolition (high-pressure water) to remove unwanted material (the sidewalks on the bridge deck).

Water from this hydrodemolition was considered contaminated under environmental law and could not be allowed to flow into Lake Washington.

A large storm on November 22–24 (the Thanksgiving holiday weekend),[23] filled some of the pontoons with rain and lake water.

A dozen anchoring cables for the new Hadley bridge were severed,[19][24] and it was closed for a short time afterward.