Date:  Thursday, June 09, 2011

Contact:

Jeff Cook, Project Engineer, 360-874-3010 (Port Orchard)
Lisa Copeland, Communication Manager 360-357-2789 (Tumwater)

BREMERTON – The old State Route 303 Manette Bridge in Kitsap County reopened to drivers at 1:15 p.m. today after Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews closed it for a structural review.

Yesterday, crews building the new bridge discovered a crack in the roadway and immediately closed the structure to vehicle traffic as a precaution.

After analyzing the crack WSDOT bridge inspectors determined it was caused by settlement in the deck of the aging structure and that the bridge can be safely reopened to traffic. Crews will install shims to level the roadway and repair the crack in the coming weeks.

“The bridge is more than 80 years old and almost at the end of its lifespan,” said Kevin Dayton, WSDOT regional administrator. “It’s still safe for drivers today, but we look forward to completing a new bridge for the community.”

The Manette Bridge was built in 1930. A new, wider bridge is being built to current codes and engineering standards, and will better accommodate drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians when it opens at the end of the year.

The old bridge is tentatively scheduled to permanently close to vehicular traffic at the end of July. Demolition of the structure is scheduled to begin the first part of November.

The $60.6 million Manette Bridge Replacement Project began in August 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2011. For more information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr303/manettebridgereplacement/.

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