A Port Angeles “graving dock yard”‘ — an on-shore dry dock that would be built next to the harbor with related facilities, including a concrete plant — would be used to fabricate massive concrete pontoons and anchors for the new eastern half of the Hood Canal Bridge.
A huge pit, or graving dock, would be dug into the waterfront, lined with concrete and flooded as the pontoons are constructed; they would be floated through a gate and into the harbor, then towed to the bridge.
In addition to Port Angeles, state officials are considering doing the project at an existing graving yard at Concrete Technology Corp. in Tacoma.
A decision between Tacoma and Port Angeles is expected Wednesday — “it all hinges on environmental cost issues,” said Pasco Bakotich III, assistant Olympic Region administrator for project development for the state Department of Transportation.
“We’re still looking at stormwater containment issues in Port Angeles and how much it may cost us to remove any contaminated soil in the area before we can build.”
“Hopefully, we can get this all wrapped up so we can make a decision on Wednesday.”
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The rest of the story appears in the Tuesday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.