Date:
Monday, February 26, 2007
Contact:
Lisa Murdock, Communications Manager, (360) 790-1383
SEATTLE – This morning WSDOT and Kiewit-General crews successfully floated ten new anchors for the east half of the Hood Canal Bridge off the floating dry dock where they were constructed at Todd Shipyards.
Like clockwork, the dry dock on which the anchors rested submerged 35 feet into the water, the anchors floated, the tow ropes tightened and a tug boat pulled the 1,000+ ton anchors out into Elliot Bay. Then the anchors were split into two lines of five and towed with two tug boats each.
“This is a proud moment for WSDOT and the Hood Canal Bridge project team,” said Scott Ireland, WSDOT Construction Manager on the Hood Canal Bridge project. “This accomplishment keeps us on track for the six week closure and east-half bridge replacement in 2009.”
The anchors are now on a 50-mile journey, destination Port Gamble Bay, where the 29-foot tall anchors will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. A fifth tug went ahead of the anchors with a mooring boom and a sixth tug followed the anchors to assist during the journey. The anchors will be moored until they are installed on the floor of the Hood Canal starting in May.
These 10 anchors, and 10 more new anchors, will serve to keep the new east-half of the Hood Canal Bridge from moving side to side. The second cycle of anchors is scheduled to be complete in July. This first of two anchor launches represents a major milestone leading to the May-June 2009 bridge closure and replacement.
For more information about the Hood Canal Bridge East-half Replacement and West-half Retrofit Project, visit www.hoodcanalbridge.com.
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