SR-520 — Hunts Point to Bellevue

The state government and the U.S. Navy wanted the crossing at Evergreen Point, while the City of Seattle favored a Sand Point to Kirkland alignment [1]. The state chose Montlake to Evergreen Point in 1954, but the dispute over the route dragged until December 1956, and Montlake residents who objected were mostly disregarded [1]. Work on the floating bridge began on August 29, 1960, with pontoon assembly following in 1961 [1]. The bridge and its approaches entered the state highway system in March 1961 [1]. The western approach, an expressway running from the Roanoke Interchange through Portage Bay and Montlake, started in early 1962, and the eastern approach was built between 1962 and 1963, reaching Medina, southern Houghton and Northup Way [1]. The bridge and approaches became Sign Route 520 under the numbering system the state adopted in 1964 [1] [2]. In 1973 the stretch from the bridge toll plaza to 104th Avenue Northeast was widened for a bus-only lane, which Metro Transit had asked for [1]. The Northup Interchange, where SR 520 meets I-405, opened on November 22, 1966, and the highway was pushed east to 124th Avenue Northeast through the Bel-Red industrial area [1].