Interstate 182 Bridge


The Interstate 182 Bridge, formally known as the Lee-Volpentest Bridges is the collective name for a pair of bridges carrying Interstate 182 over the Columbia River between Pasco and Richland in the U.S. state of Washington. They are named after Glenn C. Lee, publisher of the Tri-City Herald, and Sam Volpentest, a prominent local businessman. It is one of three bridges connecting Pasco to the other members of the Tri-Cities of Washington, along with the Cable Bridge and the Blue Bridge.

History

In 1894 the Timmerman ferry started operation at this site and continued operation until 1931. This crossing remained unused for over fifty years until the first of the I-182 bridges was opened on November 27, 1984.
During construction of the bridge, a crane collapsed and killed a worker. The bridge was unofficially dedicated as the John K. Seward Memorial Bridge by other construction workers in his honor.