March 31st, 2020
Beneath the bridges
For decades, Fidalgo Island was linked to the Skagit Valley by a drawbridge over the Swinomish Channel. In 1972 the drawbridge was replaced by a single steel truss span serving both east and westbound traffic. The 3,259 foot-long span was seismically retrofitted in 1997 by the state Department of Transportation. The second “twin” span, which now carries westbound SR 20 traffic only, was built in 1981. It is 3,545 feet long. This span features a 6-foot sidewalk, popular among bicyclists. The “twin” bridges were named in honor of former State Representative Duane Berentson, an Anacortes native.
