Please keep posting these videos! I love them. It is a window into my childhood. I was 13 in 1983 and remember all these landmarks and old businesses. Thank you!
16:05, Chevy Van with a "The Vapors" wheel cover for the spare tire. I am listening to new wave music watching this. Was literally listening to a song BY The Vapors when they passed the van.
Wow, it's crazy to see what I-90 looked like before the second bridge was built and before all the lids on Mercer Island. It sure looked very much like something you'd expect from a 1940 freeway and reminds me a lot of the Arroyo Seco Parkway/Pasadena Freeway (CA 110) in LA, which also opened in 1940.
I love this video! Back when Seattle was a nice place to live! I took this route every night from Boeing Plant 2. What wonderful memories! Please post more if you have more! Thank you!
I drove the bridge in the 1980s to get to school in Seattle from my home in Bellevue. The video shows 2 lanes each way but it would also change to 3 lanes west + 1 lane east (and vice versa) during rush hours. The middle lanes were called "reversible lanes," and the green arrow above the lane would change to a flashing red "X" to tell you the lane direction was going to change soon. It would then go to a solid red "X" when oncoming traffic would then start using the lane in the opposite direction. There were no barriers so it was very dangerous especially on dark raining days when visibility was bad with oncoming headlights. The tunnel was particularly sketchy as there were sharp turns entering and leaving the tunnel and you'd pass so close to oncoming traffic. As a 16 year old new driver I'm glad I never had an accident on the bridge, but bad collisions and sideswipes were fairly common.
Those reversible lanes are a trip!! I think I heard the term 'suicide switch' referring to them either here or maybe on the 1st ave S bridge back in the day. Thanks for the details about the switch over procedure. It's crazy to think that it was just lights and not fully isolated like the I-5 Express Lanes.
Do you remember the "Bulge" which was midspan on the floating bridge? It was a spot where the bridge traffic split, each 2 lanes turning away sharply from the center of the bridge, then back together. Was the point where two of the bridge pontoons would swing away from each other in opposite directions to allow large boats to pass through. This was a crazy dangerous piece of traffic when the reversible lanes were in play. Otherwise fun to watch, I'd just turned 19 when this was filmed, thousands of trips along that stretch of I-90 :)
When I first came up here in the late-1980's this was one of the first things I noticed. It seemed so confusing and scary, and avoided it like the plague, driving the 520 Bridge, instead.
I wish traffic was still like this in Seattle. There’s a lot more cars and they are driving a lot faster these days! Also notice the smoke in the air - there were wild fires back then too. Great video!
Issaquah is unbelievable in this. There wasn't 5 percent then what is there today. The red chev pickup going by front street at 35-40 mph ...20:00 ....today would either be rear ended or pulled over by the vaxed WSP
Pretty incredible seeing I-90 under construction. It doesn't really look like an interstate as it goes through Seattle, then crosses over the Lake Washington Bridge, then goes through Mercer Island. It just looks like a normal regular street. Then around the I-405 interchange, it actually starts to look like an interstate.
As you come off Mercer Island you hit what we called the "New Freeway - that part at 405 on out to North Bend was finished in the mid 1970's - Took them years to finish that last section through Mercer Island and to Seattle.
@@SparkeyCox Do you remember all the interchange ramps in seattle that just stopped mid-air around 90 & 5 for quite a few years? A buddy in high school did a photo essay on them in around 1980.
The open roads are mind blowing. The state was able to afford all those lanes then , and they have not built many more lanes since with massive more taxpayers
This was not too many years after removing the toll booth from the 520 floating bridge. If I recall it was $0.35 to cross, or $0.10 if you had 3 or more passengers. And now it's how much? (Never crossed again since reinstating)
Thanks for this upload! It's interesting to see how I-90 eastbound looked some decades ago. A lot less traffic, no graffiti, and I barely remember those silly looking white dots separating all the lanes. Also those occasional white `V' painted on the shoulders - what was that? Such a blast from the past !
Wow..that old off/on exit above Leschi at 4:10, right outside the Mt. Baker tunnel. That was insane. I used to get on there. You'd look into the tunnel, couldnt see cars with no lights on until right before they came out. You had to gun it to get on the freeway and not get run over.
Can you build me a time machine back to the 1980s please ? It was the best decade ever , sadly i was born in 86 so missed it and the 90s was never as good , the cars were more fun in the 80s too
Differences between I-90 in 1983 and I-90 today In 1983: - I-90 started by turning south from Dearborn Street. I-90 and I-5 never crossed paths then. - I-90 from Seattle to Bellevue looked more like a standard city highway than a true freeway (a true freeway has a meridian separating opposite traffic). Only once you reach Bellevue Way does the two directions split and develop a meridian. - The Mount Baker Tunnel was only half the length compared to today, and only consisted of westbound and eastbound tunnels. - There was only one floating bridge carrying I-90 across Lake Washington and it was all for cars. - When you come to Mercer Island (where the driver pulled over), there is a sidewalk on the right side of the freeway that you could walk alongside the freeway, that only extends a few feet. - There are no lids covering the freeway on MI. It also seems easier to make a freeway exit on Mercer Island then as you can directly go on Sunset Highway, and then hop back on the freeway there. - The high concrete walls on both sides of the freeway on MI were just starting to be built during that time. - Once the freeway crosses into Bellevue, things become a lot more familiar as from here on out, the freeway did not change that much in the last 40 years. In 1992: - I-90 started at 4th avenue by the Kingdome, and then interchanges with I-5 on a double-decked viaduct. - I-90 has a meridian separating the direction of the traffic all the way into Seattle. - The Mount Baker Tunnel had already been doubled in length and has a new tunnel carrying westbound traffic into Seattle. - There was a newly built floating bridge carrying I-90 across Lake Washington (the original bridge had collapsed in 1990). Even then, there is still only one bridge carrying I-90 across the lake. - The lids over the freeway in Mercer Island had already been built, as well as the high concrete walls. In 2024: - I-90 starts right by T-Mobile Park on 4th Avenue, and then loops up towards I-5 and intersects with it. The freeway goes on a double-decker viaduct with eastbound traffic on top of the westbound. - The Mount Baker Tunnel had been doubled in length, with separate tunnels for eastbound, westbound traffic, Link rail, and pedestrians/bikes. - There are two floating bridges carrying I-90 across LW, and consists of cars as usual, plus Link train and pedestrian walkway. - The lid covers the freeway in west Mercer Island, and there are smaller lids as you progress through the island. The train tracks also follow the freeway throughout the island. - When you cross over to Bellevue, the train tracks turn north into downtown Bellevue before you reach the 405 interchange. Once the freeway crosses into Bellevue, things become a lot more familiar as from here on out, the freeway did not change that much in the last 40 years. Issaquah is a lot sparser back in 1983, though most of the freeway exits had been already established.
You missed like three or four facts, Mr. Britnor (2 for the 1940-1983 section AND 2 for the 1992 one for four mistakes): IN 1940-1983: 1. Traffic used to skip the original Mt Baker Tunnels (starting from the residential area). 2. There was no Mercer Island Tunnel. (NOTE: I wonder when the Mercer Island Tunnel "tetralogy" tubes were installed.) IN 1992: 1. After the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel, the turn (beginning with the residential area), it was permanently closed. 2. Now includes the Mercer Island Tunnel. (That is, after the new Mt Baker Tunnel.) Is "Mercer Island Tunnel" AND "Mercer Island Lid" the same thing? If so, correct me if I am wrong about "Mercer Island Tunnel" in the 1983 and 1992 sections. But seriously, I did get the "residential area" subject for the original Mt Baker Tunnel (for the 1940-1983 section) correct. That is, same thing for the 1992 section. I said, "After the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel, the turn, it was permanently closed. That is, beginning with the residential area". (NOTE: With the exception of these four, you are totally correct. But I added in the other four that you missed.) The other four you missed were: 1. Traffic being able to skip the original Mt Baker Tunnels (starting from the residential area). (That was the 1940-1983 VERSION.) 2. No Mercer Island Tunnel. (That was in the 1940-1983 VERSION.) 3. The residential area route being permanently closed after the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel. (That was in the 1992 VERSION.) 4. The installation of Mercer Island Tunnel. (That was in the 1992 VERSION.)
I can’t believe the speed limit past Issaquah going to North Bend was 55 mph! Nowadays it’s 70 mph which is actually a little too fast sometimes (especially with people going easily 80+ on that road!) and trucks have to stay at 60 mph which causes some congestion. Largely though, the road looks the same around the pass, just a lot less traffic!
Wow talk about a trip down memory lane, I love it I was bright eyed 21yr old back then with the world in front of me, to bad unemployment was so high especially in my age bracket it was about 20% unemployment for young men trying to start out so I moved to California for a few years and that was great back then. It’s cool to watch all these cars back then that nobody liked at the time and today people are paying a fortune for them 😂
The bulge has been removed. I guess we enjoyed a straight bridge section for longer than I thought before it sank. Also: the temporary lane control signals above the new East Channel bridge.😆
City of ISSAQUAH didn't want improvement, back early 90's I was working at SKIPPER'S,and my manager back then told me they don't allow us to put our regular bright color sign it has to be doll blue and yellow because they want people be attracted to city! they wanted to keep the city old school,and low population,they were happy with bunch of rednecks there😂😂😂
55 mph was the national interstate speed limit from 1974 to when the federal government repealed it in 1995. After that it was left to the individual states to decide their own speed limits.
Please keep posting these videos! I love them. It is a window into my childhood. I was 13 in 1983 and remember all these landmarks and old businesses. Thank you!
16:05, Chevy Van with a "The Vapors" wheel cover for the spare tire. I am listening to new wave music watching this. Was literally listening to a song BY The Vapors when they passed the van.
Do you suppose the guy driving the van was Japanese, or just turning Japanese?
This video would go well with music from the times.
Takes me back to the good old days when I was having a Great Time ! Thank you !!
Wow, it's crazy to see what I-90 looked like before the second bridge was built and before all the lids on Mercer Island. It sure looked very much like something you'd expect from a 1940 freeway and reminds me a lot of the Arroyo Seco Parkway/Pasadena Freeway (CA 110) in LA, which also opened in 1940.
I love this video! Back when Seattle was a nice place to live! I took this route every night from Boeing Plant 2. What wonderful memories! Please post more if you have more! Thank you!
My dad also worked at Boeing plant 2 in the early 1980s on into his retirement in the 2010s. he commuted via I90 to the Bellevue/Kirkland area.
This is the best cannel on youtube
I drove the bridge in the 1980s to get to school in Seattle from my home in Bellevue. The video shows 2 lanes each way but it would also change to 3 lanes west + 1 lane east (and vice versa) during rush hours. The middle lanes were called "reversible lanes," and the green arrow above the lane would change to a flashing red "X" to tell you the lane direction was going to change soon. It would then go to a solid red "X" when oncoming traffic would then start using the lane in the opposite direction. There were no barriers so it was very dangerous especially on dark raining days when visibility was bad with oncoming headlights. The tunnel was particularly sketchy as there were sharp turns entering and leaving the tunnel and you'd pass so close to oncoming traffic. As a 16 year old new driver I'm glad I never had an accident on the bridge, but bad collisions and sideswipes were fairly common.
Those reversible lanes are a trip!! I think I heard the term 'suicide switch' referring to them either here or maybe on the 1st ave S bridge back in the day. Thanks for the details about the switch over procedure. It's crazy to think that it was just lights and not fully isolated like the I-5 Express Lanes.
Do you remember the "Bulge" which was midspan on the floating bridge? It was a spot where the bridge traffic split, each 2 lanes turning away sharply from the center of the bridge, then back together. Was the point where two of the bridge pontoons would swing away from each other in opposite directions to allow large boats to pass through. This was a crazy dangerous piece of traffic when the reversible lanes were in play. Otherwise fun to watch, I'd just turned 19 when this was filmed, thousands of trips along that stretch of I-90 :)
When I first came up here in the late-1980's this was one of the first things I noticed. It seemed so confusing and scary, and avoided it like the plague, driving the 520 Bridge, instead.
I find these old recordings really interesting at times!
Weird not seeing the T mobile building in factoria. This is incredible
When that building went up, about 10 years later, the company that owned it back then was called Attachmate.
Seattle when it was still a cool place to live.
Seems a lot more crowded and noisy now.
@@chetpomeroy1399 It's not the crowdedness so much as the loss of place and history.
Thanks for posting, brings back a lot of memories.
I wish traffic was still like this in Seattle. There’s a lot more cars and they are driving a lot faster these days! Also notice the smoke in the air - there were wild fires back then too. Great video!
Issaquah is unbelievable in this. There wasn't 5 percent then what is there today. The red chev pickup going by front street at 35-40 mph ...20:00 ....today would either be rear ended or pulled over by the vaxed WSP
Pretty incredible seeing I-90 under construction. It doesn't really look like an interstate as it goes through Seattle, then crosses over the Lake Washington Bridge, then goes through Mercer Island. It just looks like a normal regular street. Then around the I-405 interchange, it actually starts to look like an interstate.
As you come off Mercer Island you hit what we called the "New Freeway - that part at 405 on out to North Bend was finished in the mid 1970's - Took them years to finish that last section through Mercer Island and to Seattle.
@@SparkeyCox Do you remember all the interchange ramps in seattle that just stopped mid-air around 90 & 5 for quite a few years? A buddy in high school did a photo essay on them in around 1980.
@@BillKibby1 Years and years ago, I remember driving by those on northbound I-5. Folks back then called them the "ramps to nowhere."
There were reversible lanes on the bridge.
The suicide lanes when they were active
The open roads are mind blowing. The state was able to afford all those lanes then , and they have not built many more lanes since with massive more taxpayers
This was not too many years after removing the toll booth from the 520 floating bridge. If I recall it was $0.35 to cross, or $0.10 if you had 3 or more passengers. And now it's how much? (Never crossed again since reinstating)
I arrived in 1991 and stayed for 25 years. It looked like this, and changed a lot by the time I left.
I was born in '83. My only recollection of the old I-90 bridge is from watching "Almost Live."
Thanks for this upload! It's interesting to see how I-90 eastbound looked some decades ago. A lot less traffic, no graffiti, and I barely remember those silly looking white dots separating all the lanes. Also those occasional white `V' painted on the shoulders - what was that?
Such a blast from the past !
There were reversible lanes on I-90 in those days. There were about 1-2 fatalities per year as a result.
Wow..that old off/on exit above Leschi at 4:10, right outside the Mt. Baker tunnel. That was insane.
I used to get on there. You'd look into the tunnel, couldnt see cars with no lights on until right before they came out. You had to gun it to get on the freeway and not get run over.
Barely any traffic
If you watch this while listening to MiMo Podcast 42, it gives a whole different feel.
Watching exactly 41 years later on 8-3-24
I could have been driving right next to this in 83
I lived right off 148th in ‘83
Oh wow. I saw myself and my buddy picking up litter next to the little bus. We worked for Dept. of Ecology that summer.
Can you build me a time machine back to the 1980s please ? It was the best decade ever , sadly i was born in 86 so missed it and the 90s was never as good , the cars were more fun in the 80s too
Differences between I-90 in 1983 and I-90 today
In 1983:
- I-90 started by turning south from Dearborn Street. I-90 and I-5 never crossed paths then.
- I-90 from Seattle to Bellevue looked more like a standard city highway than a true freeway (a true freeway has a meridian separating opposite traffic). Only once you reach Bellevue Way does the two directions split and develop a meridian.
- The Mount Baker Tunnel was only half the length compared to today, and only consisted of westbound and eastbound tunnels.
- There was only one floating bridge carrying I-90 across Lake Washington and it was all for cars.
- When you come to Mercer Island (where the driver pulled over), there is a sidewalk on the right side of the freeway that you could walk alongside the freeway, that only extends a few feet.
- There are no lids covering the freeway on MI. It also seems easier to make a freeway exit on Mercer Island then as you can directly go on Sunset Highway, and then hop back on the freeway there.
- The high concrete walls on both sides of the freeway on MI were just starting to be built during that time.
- Once the freeway crosses into Bellevue, things become a lot more familiar as from here on out, the freeway did not change that much in the last 40 years.
In 1992:
- I-90 started at 4th avenue by the Kingdome, and then interchanges with I-5 on a double-decked viaduct.
- I-90 has a meridian separating the direction of the traffic all the way into Seattle.
- The Mount Baker Tunnel had already been doubled in length and has a new tunnel carrying westbound traffic into Seattle.
- There was a newly built floating bridge carrying I-90 across Lake Washington (the original bridge had collapsed in 1990). Even then, there is still only one bridge carrying I-90 across the lake.
- The lids over the freeway in Mercer Island had already been built, as well as the high concrete walls.
In 2024:
- I-90 starts right by T-Mobile Park on 4th Avenue, and then loops up towards I-5 and intersects with it. The freeway goes on a double-decker viaduct with eastbound traffic on top of the westbound.
- The Mount Baker Tunnel had been doubled in length, with separate tunnels for eastbound, westbound traffic, Link rail, and pedestrians/bikes.
- There are two floating bridges carrying I-90 across LW, and consists of cars as usual, plus Link train and pedestrian walkway.
- The lid covers the freeway in west Mercer Island, and there are smaller lids as you progress through the island. The train tracks also follow the freeway throughout the island.
- When you cross over to Bellevue, the train tracks turn north into downtown Bellevue before you reach the 405 interchange.
Once the freeway crosses into Bellevue, things become a lot more familiar as from here on out, the freeway did not change that much in the last 40 years. Issaquah is a lot sparser back in 1983, though most of the freeway exits had been already established.
You missed like three or four facts, Mr. Britnor (2 for the 1940-1983 section AND 2 for the 1992 one for four mistakes):
IN 1940-1983:
1. Traffic used to skip the original Mt Baker Tunnels (starting from the residential area).
2. There was no Mercer Island Tunnel. (NOTE: I wonder when the Mercer Island Tunnel "tetralogy" tubes were installed.)
IN 1992:
1. After the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel, the turn (beginning with the residential area), it was permanently closed.
2. Now includes the Mercer Island Tunnel. (That is, after the new Mt Baker Tunnel.)
Is "Mercer Island Tunnel" AND "Mercer Island Lid" the same thing? If so, correct me if I am wrong about "Mercer Island Tunnel" in the 1983 and 1992 sections.
But seriously, I did get the "residential area" subject for the original Mt Baker Tunnel (for the 1940-1983 section) correct. That is, same thing for the 1992 section. I said, "After the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel, the turn, it was permanently closed. That is, beginning with the residential area". (NOTE: With the exception of these four, you are totally correct. But I added in the other four that you missed.)
The other four you missed were:
1. Traffic being able to skip the original Mt Baker Tunnels (starting from the residential area). (That was the 1940-1983 VERSION.)
2. No Mercer Island Tunnel. (That was in the 1940-1983 VERSION.)
3. The residential area route being permanently closed after the installation of the new Mt Baker Tunnel. (That was in the 1992 VERSION.)
4. The installation of Mercer Island Tunnel. (That was in the 1992 VERSION.)
I can’t believe the speed limit past Issaquah going to North Bend was 55 mph! Nowadays it’s 70 mph which is actually a little too fast sometimes (especially with people going easily 80+ on that road!) and trucks have to stay at 60 mph which causes some congestion. Largely though, the road looks the same around the pass, just a lot less traffic!
Wow talk about a trip down memory lane, I love it I was bright eyed 21yr old back then with the world in front of me, to bad unemployment was so high especially in my age bracket it was about 20% unemployment for young men trying to start out so I moved to California for a few years and that was great back then. It’s cool to watch all these cars back then that nobody liked at the time and today people are paying a fortune for them 😂
About five years later when I arrived, it seemed jobs were going begging everywhere!
I remember this drive before they took the kink of the bridge and added the higher east channel bridge.
The bulge has been removed. I guess we enjoyed a straight bridge section for longer than I thought before it sank. Also: the temporary lane control signals above the new East Channel bridge.😆
Bulge removed in 79, bridge sank in 89, by my memory
Lived here my entire life. What a depressing place it has become.
Do you have any videos from roads around Mount Rainier and it's National Park?
Can you find more videos of Vancouver please? That's my hometown and it's the city i live in:)
Ah, the good ole days.
This was about 5 years before I arrived. In Issaquah, there doesn't look like much development on Gilman Boulevard at that time. No QFC, no *nothing!*
City of ISSAQUAH didn't want improvement, back early 90's I was working at SKIPPER'S,and my manager back then told me they don't allow us to put our regular bright color sign
it has to be doll blue and yellow because they want people be attracted to city!
they wanted to keep the city old school,and low population,they were happy with bunch of rednecks there😂😂😂
Airport and Pickering Farm where Costco is.
When did the old highway 10 get transitioned to I-90?
I took that road 2 days ago. Multiply traffic by a factor of 10, at least.
If someone had editing skills, it would be fun to have side-by-sides with these old videos & what it looks like now.
Nothing was there when I was a kid. It was beautiful. Now all I see is crime and overpriced apartments
Wow, Issaquah is EMPTY.
Looks like slow motion, speed limit was still 55
52 seconds... Did the scammer almost rear end the car in front of him?
no he was just tailgating😂😂
55 is a low speed limit for I-90 dang
55 mph was the national interstate speed limit from 1974 to when the federal government repealed it in 1995. After that it was left to the individual states to decide their own speed limits.
One could get a speeding ticket if they went over 60 in those days.
Fast forward to 2033. You still don't see any light rail trains crossing the floating bridge.🤣
Long before the billionaires and California transplants ruined the Emerald City…
I was 10 years old and lived up that road to the right at the last exit in the video 436th/Ceder Falls rd in 1983.