The floating light rail bridge over Lake Washington may be killing fish in the area.
On Aug. 3, Washington State Department of Transportation alerted Sound Transit they found dead fish near the network of anode strings hanging from the I-90 floating bridge into Lake Washington, according to Sound Transit Senior Public Information Officer Rachelle Cunningham.
The anode strings are a part of the cathodic protection system, which uses low-level electrical current to control the corrosion of the metal on the bridge.
“Sound Transit takes this issue very seriously,” Cunningham said. “Upon being notified, we responded immediately, deploying dive teams and engaging fish biologists and engineers, while coordinating with regulatory agencies and Tribal fisheries managers to investigate the areas in question.”
Sound Transit believes the problem stems from the anode strings touching the lakebed. By August 23, they have raised the cables so they are no longer in contact with the bottom of the lake, which they believe addresses the issue.
Cunningham said they will continue to monitor and analyze the situation in collaboration with Tribal fishery managers and other regulatory agencies and they hope to determine the root cause of the issue in the next several weeks to implement a permanent solution.
“This type of electrical management system has been widely tested and is used both locally and throughout the world on bridges and other aquatic structures with no negative impact on fish populations,” Cunningham said. “We are committed to working diligently and collaboratively with our partners to address this issue.”
The Crosslake Connection opened on March 28, 2026, with light rail vehicles carrying passengers across a floating bridge for the first time. This completed the Link 2 Line which connects the Eastside with Seattle, Tacoma International Airport, Federal Way and Lynnwood.
