Construction of the State Route (SR) 104 Hood Canal Bridge began January 1958 and was opened to traffic on Aug. 12, 1961. The Hood Canal Bridge was the second concrete pontoon floating bridge constructed on Washington’s highway system. It one of the world’s few floating bridges over a saltwater tidal basin. Cost to construct the original bridge was $26,630,000. The pontoons for the floating bridge were constructed at a graving dock along the Duwamish River in Seattle and towed by tugs to the bridge site.
The west half of the bridge failed and sank on Feb. 13, 1979 during a storm carrying wind gusts of 120 mph and sustained winds of 85 mph. The west half was rebuilt and opened to traffic in October 1982.
There are 13 photos in this photo gallery. Click on photos to enlarge and view captions.
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1979 Gap in Bridge |
Sunk pontoons |
Pre-cast Sections |
Super-structure |
Moving Pontoons |
Setting Anchors |
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Pontoons C and D |
Pontoons H and J |
Super-Structure |
Installing
pontoon G |
Installating R, S & T |
Open 1982 |
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Pontoons R,S & T
6/06
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