SHINE - The long-anticipated closure of the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge for the replacement of the bridge's east half will take place in May-June 2009, WSDOT officials announced this week.
In addition, WSDOT and its contractor, Kiewit-General of Poulsbo, have developed a plan to cut the bridge's anticipated closure to just six weeks.
"K-G deserves a lot of credit for committing to a compressed work schedule," said Eric Soderquist, project director. "We all know how important this bridge is to the residents and businesses of the Olympic Peninsula. That's why the six-week closure time is written into K-G's contract. Their obligation to us and to the public to meet this schedule is a major boost for this project."
WSDOT and K-G plan to complete the bridge replacement in six weeks, but the closure could extend two additional weeks if crews experience bad weather conditions.
During this time, the east and west transition trusses will be replaced, the old east-half floating sections cut away and the new sections floated into position, cabled together and anchored.
Closing the bridge, which carries an average of 20,000 trips on weekends, will significantly affect drivers and surrounding communities. WSDOT is working closely with area residents and transportation, business, tourism and community groups to help drivers prepare for the closure.
To minimize the required closure time, WSDOT engineers planned for as much construction as possible to be completed away from the bridge site. Instead of closing the bridge during the entire three and one-half year construction cycle, the bridge will only closed for six weeks.
K-G, the same contractor who accomplished the August 2005 Hood Canal Bridge approach span replacements, is now building the new east-half floating pontoons at a graving dock in Tacoma.
Watch SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge pontoon construction at www.hoodcanalbridge.com. When finished, the Hood Canal Bridge will be wider, safer, and more affordable to maintain.