Date:
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Contact:
Becky Hixson, Hood Canal Bridge Communication Manager, (253) 305-6450
SHINE – WSDOT is moving forward with the Peninsula Regional Transportation and Planning Organization’s (PRTPO) stamp of approval to implement the $10 million federally-funded closure mitigation plan that will help drivers get where they need to go during the May-June 2009 Hood Canal Bridge closure.
The plan specifically addresses Hood Canal Bridge drivers’ top concerns voiced in the 2003 Hood Canal Bridge User Survey: getting to their destination on time; knowing the fastest routes; avoiding being stuck in traffic; and, getting help to make their travel easier.
“This plan has been eight years in the making,” said Mike Chapman, PRTPO Executive Chair. “We listened to what the Olympic and Kitsap community told us they needed to survive the closure. We believe the Hood Canal Bridge Closure Mitigation Plan meets drivers’ needs.”
Plan elements include: making improvements and adding traffic control on alternate driving routes such as US 101 and SR 3; providing transportation options, including a passenger-only ferry across Hood Canal and transit connections; implementing additional rideshare opportunities; offering assistance to get to medical appointments, and communicating the closure details through a public outreach program.
These plan elements will make it possible for drivers to get from one side of Hood Canal to the other during the May-June 2009 Hood Canal Bridge closure when visiting family, attending an event, going to a medical appointment, shopping or visiting the Olympic Peninsula.
Most importantly, this six-week closure will result in a new east-half of the bridge that will be wider, safer and more affordable to maintain.
The community’s commitment to planning ahead and to utilizing alternate transportation options helped the two-day closures in August 2005 go smoothly. Drivers can again help prepare for the closure by learning more about the options available, planning their trips ahead of time and sharing with others useful closure information that can be found at www.hoodcanalbridge.com.
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