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Demolition of the old bridge
Bridge construction and four-month closure
Replacing the bridge
Bridge design
Intersection design
When will demolition of the old occur and what traffic impacts can be expected?
Work to demolish the above-water sections of the old bridge is under way and is scheduled to conclude in January 2012. During this work, drivers will experience one-way, alternating traffic across the new bridge and at the intersections on either end from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
In-water work to remove the old bridge footings is scheduled to occur in 2012. This demolition will not impact traffic on the new bridge.
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When does the old bridge close to traffic, and when will the new one open?
The old Manette Bridge closed to traffic July 24, 2011 for approximately four months with the new bridge opening Nov. 10, 2011. Some intermittent, short-term delays occurred. Download the closure PDF
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What type of traffic impacts can I expect during construction?
Drivers can expect several bridge closures and one-way, alternating traffic prior to a closure of up to four months while final connections between the new bridge and Manette are being made.
- Drivers can expect a traffic shift for approximately 200 feet on the Bremerton side of the bridge, which allows crews place the final girder for the new bridge. The traffic revision will be in effect for the duration of the project.
- The bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic, but pedestrians may experience short duration closures (15 minutes or less) of the sidewalk during certain activities for safety purposes.
- The Manette bridge will be reduced to one lane with one-way, alternating, flagger controlled traffic . Pedestrians may experience short duration closures (15 minutes or less) of the sidewalk.
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Will the existing bridge be open during construction?
The existing bridge will be open to traffic during the majority of new bridge construction. A closure estimated at four months will occur when the new end spans are built. This is necessary because the new end spans overlap the existing end spans. The bridge will remain open to pedestrian traffic during this period, with the exception of two, two-week periods at the beginning and the end of the four-month closure. During those times, the bridge will close to all travelers.
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Can I still travel between Manette and Bremerton during construction?
Yes. The Manette Bridge is one of two bridges spanning Port Washington Narrows in Bremerton. During the construction and estimated four-month closure of the Manette Bridge, motorists can use the Warren Avenue Bridge (approximately 1.2 miles northwest) as an alternate route.
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How will the bridge be built without harming the environment?
This work started in the design phase. During the design process we interacted with representatives of environmental resource agencies to define the necessary work and appropriate methods to avoid environmental harm. Project compliance with both the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was required. Several discipline area studies were completed in support of SEPA and NEPA approval for the project.
Also, permits were obtained from several environmental resource agencies before the construction. Issuing agencies included the Washington State Department of Ecology, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Bremerton. The permits issued include specific conditions that the project must comply with in order to avoid environmental harm.
Industry standard best management practices are employed throughout the construction phase to avoid harm to the environment. Extensive monitoring is conducted during the construction phase to ensure the project work is conducted in compliance with permit conditions.
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What happens to the 1930 bridge after the new bridge is open?
The 1930 bridge will be demolished once the new bridge is open to traffic. The method of demolition will be determined by the contractor, in compliance with the project’s permits. Nearly all of the existing bridge, including the concrete piers, will be removed from the site.
The existing handrailing will be removed, refurbished and reused in the new viewscape. The 1930 commemorative plaque was also to be refurbished and reused, but was unfortunately stolen from the site. Explosives will not be used to demolish the 1930 bridge.
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Why can't the 1930 bridge be used as a pedestrian bridge after the new bridge is open?
The deteriorated structural condition of the existing bridge is such that it must be removed after opening the new bridge. If left in place, the existing bridge would present a real risk to the new bridge during a major earthquake. The new bridge will have a 10-foot-wide sidewalk for pedestrians and two five-foot-wide shoulders for bicyclists.
How will bicyclists be accommodated on the new bridge?
The new Manette Bridge will feature two, 5-foot-wide shoulders separated from the car lanes by white lines, that bicyclists can use to cross the bridge in either direction.
Bicyclists use of the traveled way, shoulder, and sidewalk is outlined in sections of RCW 46.61 and/or any applicable City of Bremerton ordinances. State law says:
- Bicyclists will be governed by applicable traffic laws while riding in the traveled lane or on the shoulder, and that they have an equal right to the lanes as other vehicles
- Bicyclists are governed by pedestrian laws when riding on the sidewalk.
Why does the bridge need to be replaced?
The existing Manette Bridge is over 80 years old. The structural deficiencies are so great that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will not allow the use of federal funds for rehabilitation of the bridge - only for replacement. The most significant structural deficiency is a condition in the concrete bridge piers called Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR). Simply put, this condition causes the concrete to split apart as a result of a chemical reaction between the cement and the aggregate (rocks). There is no known practical means to rehabilitate this problem.
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How much will the new bridge cost?
The project cost for the bridge replacement project is $60.5 million.
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Where does money to replace the bridge come from?
The project is funded through the statewide Bridge Preservation Program. The majority of funding for the project comes from the federal government.
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What will the new bridge look like?
The new bridge will be made of concrete and will have variable depth – “haunched” – girders that provide the spans an arched appearance. The haunch will be parabolic (curved) in shape rather than straight lines. This will provide a smoother arch appearance than the Warren Avenue Bridge. The bridge will have seven spans, five of which will be equal length. Each of the six in-water piers will have two columns. View a drawing of the new bridge.
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Will there be decorative architectural treatments on the new bridge?
Yes. At the top of each pier there will be a section of concrete 8 feet wide by 12 feet high. There will be twelve of these areas on the new bridge (six on each side). A compass rose design was selected by the City of Bremerton and will be cast into the concrete in these areas. View a drawing of the compass rose design.
In each of the bridge spans there will be two “closure pour” locations between concrete girders. There will be 24 of these areas on the new bridge (12 on each side). These locations provide another opportunity for the design to be cast into the concrete. The compass rose design will also be applied at these locations.
The public was invited to submit suggestions for the design element at a May 2009 open house. From the suggestions submitted, the City of Bremerton selected the compass rose design. Additionally, the City of Bremerton adopted a suggestion to paint portions of the new bridge railing green to commemorate the 1930 bridge.
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Will there be sidewalks on the new bridge?
Yes. The new bridge has a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. There are also and 5-foot-wide shoulders on each side of the bridge.
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Will there be streetlights on the new bridge?
Yes, there will be streetlights on both sides of the new bridge.
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What is the design for the intersection on the downtown Bremerton side of the bridge?
The Bremerton-side intersection will have a traffic signal and the same lane configuration as it does now. The intersection will be moved slightly south of the current location.
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What is the design for the intersection on the Manette side of the bridge?
The City of Bremerton has requested a roundabout at the intersection Wheaton Way and Harkins Street in Manette. View a video of the proposed design.
A roundabout intersection at Harkins Street and Wheaton Way requires closing Shore Drive between Harkins Street and East 11th Street. A roundabout connection to Shore Drive would be too steep.
Closing Shore Drive between Harkins Street and East 11th Street also allows the restoration of the Whitney Domstad viewscape to be extended into this area.
With the roundabout, this will be a "three-leg" intersection between Wheaton Way, Harkins Street, and the Manette Bridge. Traffic will be able move from any of these streets to either of the other two streets.
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Why build a roundabout rather than a traditional intersection with a traffic signal at the Manette end of the bridge?
The roundabout will safely and efficiently move motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic through the intersection.
As traffic volumes will increase at this intersection, eventually a traffic signal would be needed if rebuilt in the existing configuration. A single-lane roundabout is well-suited to current and expected future traffic volumes.
The center portion of the roundabout provides a space for welcoming bridge users to the Manette neighborhood.
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Will the Whitey Domstad viewscape remain after the new bridge is built?
Yes. After the new bridge is finished, the viewscape will be rebuilt slightly south of its current location. View before and after images.
Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Wheaton Way and Harkins Street requires closing Shore Drive between Harkins Street and East 11th Street, allowing the restored viewscape to be extended into this area.
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