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Shortly after the opening of the bridge's westbound lanes, the Washington State
Transportation Commission proposed increasing toll rates to introduce night-time tolling
by 2017. The toll rate increase and night time toll was approved by the commission and
implemented on July 1, 2017.
The old bridge was planned to be decommissioned by floating away pontoons to an
industrial site in Kenmore for disposal and recycling. In March 2016, the city rejected the
plan, citing the possible release of toxins in the pontoon's concrete. The pontoons were
sold to a recycling company based in Gig Harbor which plans to reuse the individual
pontoons for floating decks and other projects. An unaffiliated contest was held in 2012
seeking ideas for the 33 pontoons of the old bridge, with solutions ranging from a
"floating High Line" to partial submersion for walking paths. The first pontoon of the old
bridge to be disassembled was towed through the Lake Washington Ship Canal in July
2016.
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