WSDOT is carefully tracking construction progress of the Hood Canal Bridge Project as it heads toward the May-June 2009 closure. Monthly updates help keep the public informed of what has been completed, what work is underway and what construction lies ahead.
Overall Hood Canal Bridge Project: 73 percent complete
What's currently under construction?
- Fabrication and assembly of steel bridge parts such as transition spans, pontoon hatches, draw span machinery and draw span hydraulic components is 91 percent finished. Work is scheduled for completion by May 2009.
- Building 14 new pontoons in four cycles at Concrete Technology in Tacoma and towing them to Seattle for assembly, outfitting and testing is 85 percent done. Work is scheduled for completion by October 2008.
- Connecting the individual pontoons together into three large sections, building elevated roadway sections on top of the pontoons, installing all electrical and mechanical parts and testing the draw span retractable assembly units. Also included is refurbishing three pontoons originally used in the west-half replacement. Work is 44 percent done and is scheduled for completion by April 2009.
What's next?
- Floating the pontoons from Seattle to the bridge site, putting them in place, connecting them together and installing the transition spans will take place in May-June 2009. The bridge will be closed to traffic during this work.
- Keeping traffic moving to and from the Olympic Peninsula during the May-June 2009 Hood Canal Bridge closure is a paramount issue for travelers. WSDOT's mitigation plan specifically addresses 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.
- Upgrading the mechanical and electrical systems on the west half to function efficiently with the new east half is scheduled to be completed by December 2010.
What work has been completed?
- Building new approach span roadways next to the existing roadway was completed in May 2006. The work required placing the existing approach span on rollers; rolling that existing span onto temporary falsework; and rolling the new wider roadway into place.
- Widening the bridge’s west half to match the new east half by cutting away the existing deck, setting new girders on crossbeams, forming deck sections and pouring concrete was completed in May 2006.
- Constructing 20 anchors and placing them on both sides of the bridge at the bottom of Hood Canal was completed in September 2007.
Last updated: April 10, 2008