Proposal: Washington state bridge made out of retired Navy aircraft carriers

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A Washington state representative wants to study the possibility of building a toll bridge out of retired Navy aircraft carriers.

The Northwest News Network reports (http://bit.ly/1aK1uId) Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor, would like to link Bremerton and Port Orchard using two retired carriers now moored at the naval shipyard in Bremerton.

"I know that people from around the world would come to drive across the deck of an aircraft carrier bridge, number one," Young said. "Number two, it's the right thing to do from my standpoint because this is giving a testimony and a legacy memorial to our greatest generation."

Money for a $90,000 feasibility study for Young's idea was included in the state highway budget that passed the House last week.

It could be stripped out of the final transportation spending plan ultimately passed by lawmakers.

A Navy spokesman says neither of the two ships Young would like to use - the USS Independence and USS Kitty Hawk - is currently available.

Chris Johnson said the Independence will be transferred from Bremerton to a ship recycling company in Texas later this year.

And the Navy plans to hold the Kitty Hawk in reserve until the new supercarrier Gerald Ford is fully operational.

KIRO