The state widened Boone Bridge from its original four lanes of traffic to a total of six lanes in 1970, with three lanes in each direction. On April 1, 1995, the bridge was re-dedicated as the Boone Bridge and a sign added to the bridge along with a plaque at the nearby rest area to honor the earlier ferry. From 1998 to 1999 the bridge was retrofitted with steel cables and a new roadway in order to prepare the bridge for earthquakes at a cost of $4 million. In May 1999, a ten car accident on the bridge backed up traffic for nine hours. The fatal crash led to a temporary reduction in the speed limit. By 2008, the bridge carried in excess of 131,300 cars per day.