Yesterday I headed down to Ebey Waterfront Park for the Ebey Slough Bridge decommissioning ceremony. The Ebey Slough Bridge has a rich history in Marysville dating back to the roaring 20′s when construction was completed. In those early years, long before I-5, the Ebey Slough Bridge was the only connection to its neighboring city of Everett. Back then the population of Marysville was approx. 1,400 and now more than 17,000 people use the bridge every day – quite a change in the last 85 years.
Recently, the new state of the art earthquake proof bridge has been completed to replace the aging Ebey Slough Bridge. The new bridge is far nicer and everyone who travels Highway 529 has undoubtedly has noticed. The old 2 lane is now replaced – after it fully opens in 2013 according the Herald – by a 4 lane highway. To bad the new bridge doesn’t open at all which makes these old slough bridges unique.
After listening to Mayor Nehring’s decommissioning speak we where all allowed to take one final walk across the bridge. It was pretty fun as I’ve only road a peddle bike across the bridge before. Other unique items to note where the old picture exhibits that showed history and my favorite was the Love graffiti from the 40s.
Below are my pictures from the ceremony and the WSDOT has posted a bunch of pictures on their Flickr photostream.
Pictures from Ebey Slough Bridge Decommissioning
Mayor Nehring giving a history lesson on the Bridge.
My friend’s, Brad Baunsgard, memorial.
The last group of people to walk across Ebey Slough Bridge
“I’m Watching” graffiti on the Bridge Tender’s house.
Marysville’s southern train bridge.
Ebey Waterfront Park from Ebey Slough Bridge.
The last group talking with reporters and family members of the Rasmussen family on the south side of the bridge.
Lawrence Garner’s 1927 Model T Ford he brought out for the Ceremony.
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