Date:  Thursday, August 20, 2009

Contact: Joe Irwin, Hood Canal Bridge Communications, 253-305-6412 or 360-507-6521

SHINE – The SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge received the stability it needs to weather upcoming winter storms when WSDOT and crews from contractor Kiewit-General of Poulsbo completed the last of 20 new east-half anchor connections earlier this week.

Until Tuesday, Aug.18, some of the bridge’s new pontoons had been linked to the older, existing anchors by older anchor cables. Work to connect the new anchors and anchor cables began after the east half of the bridge was replaced in June.

“The anchors and anchor cables are to a floating bridge what foundations are to a skyscraper,” said Principal Engineer Dave Ziegler. “Connecting the new east-half pontoons to these anchors is vital to ensuring the new bridge has the support it needs to handle everything from tidal fluctuations and adverse weather to seismic events.”

WSDOT used a combination of divers and remotely-operated vehicles to help run the anchor cables from the pontoons through huge u-shaped pipes in the 1,000-ton anchors, and back up to the pontoons to complete the connections.

The 3-inch thick steel cables range from approximately a quarter-mile to one mile in length and provide a stronger, more stable connection to the new east-half anchors that were placed at the bottom of Hood Canal in the summer of 2007.

Work to connect the anchor cables to the pontoons required WSDOT to place Jersey barrier on the east side of the bridge, which reduced the width of westbound shoulders in some areas. These barriers are scheduled to be removed next week.

WSDOT replaced the Hood Canal Bridge’s east half and east and west trusses June 3, but the project is scheduled to continue through December 2009 as crews complete electrical, hydraulic and mechanical upgrades and make final adjustments. For more information on the Hood Canal Bridge Project, please visit http://www.hoodcanalbridge.com/. 

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