Bridge Photos

The City of Hoquiam hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 29, 2008, the last day of the 10-week closure. The event celebrated the re-opening of the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge to traffic.



The Hoquiam High School Marching Band lead the ceremonial first walk across the bridge.



Pushrods and other classic car clubs joined in the procession across the bridge.



 A 1941 classic fire truck from Hoquiam's Polson Museum.




US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge spanning the Hoquiam River in Hoquiam.


  The bridge opened to traffic in 1927. Today, an average of 15,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.



The most visual part of this project will be the removal of the original control house.



Below is the electrical control panel from the original control house that operated the bridge's drawspan.
 

This generator from the original control tower opened and closed the drawspan when the power went out.



 The original control house was removed Feb. 19 using a 550-ton crane.



A crane lifts new gears into position.



New submarine cables on wooden spools.



A machine pulled the cables through a 12-inch diameter duct that was drilled beneath the Hoquiam River channel earlier in the project.



New 18-foot-long operating racks.



The new operating racks were then placed on the major mechanical parts that open and close the drawspan.



The new maintenance pullout area receiving a fresh overlay. This area will allow bridge maintenance activities to take place without impeding traffic.

View of the new maintenance pullout from the side of the bridge.

New traffic signals were installed to help warn drivers when the drawspan is opening.

Crews removed the cables holding the west end of the bridge in place on April 2, 2008 for the first time since the beginning of the 10-week closure in Feb.