SHINE — The state Department of Transportation has shelved plans to close the Hood Canal Bridge for four consecutive weekends in August and September and has replaced that schedule with one featuring weeknight and weekend nighttime bridge closures in May, June and September.
The tentative closure dates and times for the Hood Canal Bridge were announced Monday as DOT officials appeared to heed warnings from North Olympic Peninsula residents and government officials that their original proposal would be catastrophic to the area’s economy.
“The new dates strike the best balance between securing critical materials needed to make repairs to the bridge and installing those materials during calm weather when traffic volumes are lower,” said MaryLou Shannon, assistant region administrator of construction, in a press release.
Instead of four long-term weekend closures of the bridge, DOT made the decision to separate the work into three phases, she said.
“While this will result in more overnight closures of the bridge, it also allows the contractor to begin making the repairs in late spring and early summer — when weather conditions are typically more favorable — and keeps the closure hours more manageable for residents and visitors alike,” Shannon said.
Government and tourism officials in both Clallam and Jefferson counties had lobbied DOT hard not to close the bridge between Jefferson and Kitsap counties during summer weekends because of its effect on tourism.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike French wrote in a Monday afternoon email: “First off, we on the Olympic Peninsula value our transportation infrastructure and want to support WSDOT’s efforts to keep the Hood Canal Bridge in good working order.
“Secondly, I appreciate the efforts of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission and the Olympic Peninsula Visitor’s Bureau (among others) to create strong communication lines between WSDOT Regional Administrator Steve Roark and all the various Olympic Peninsula partners (not just in the tourism industry).”
French noted that a lot of work remains to ensure visitors understand and plan around the closures this summer and fall.
“It’s encouraging that WSDOT listened carefully and respectfully to our concerns and adjusted their schedule accordingly, and I thank (Steve Roark, DOT Olympic Region Administrator) for being so generous with his time over the past few months as he discussed this and other important transportation projects in our region,” the email said.
Jefferson County Commissioner Kate Dean wrote in a Monday afternoon email: “This is great news for Jefferson County, businesses, and residents.
“We are really grateful to WSDOT for listening to our concerns and finding a less impactful solution. It’s still going to require careful planning, especially for emergency response, but we are prepared to work in short order with all the required partners to get ’er done!”
The work in May and June will focus on restoring the pyramids on the bridge that help guide the two halves of the bridge together. The repairs will require the use of boats and cranes in the water with the draw span open.
Emergency response access across the bridge will not be available during the overnight closures in May and June.
In September, workers will update the mechanism that securely connects both halves of the bridge and install new shock absorbers.
The center locks allow the bridge to be opened and closed and the state is obligated to open the bridge for marine traffic, including Navy ships. They guide the span and keep both halves of the bridge connected.
Work on these weather-sensitive systems won’t begin until Sept. 10, and it may include both weekday and weekend nighttime closures. DOT will announce the dates and times for that work later this summer.
This work requires calm weather, so all dates are subject to change, DOT said.
Travelers can get information about the Hood Canal Bridge via DOT email alerts, the DOT app and blog, and on the statewide travel map and DOT regional Twitter feed.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
