SHINE — The Hood Canal Bridge draw span will open, closing the bridge to all traffic, multiple times during the next two weeks.
Travelers should plan on delays starting Monday as state Department of Transportation maintenance crews conduct an in-depth inspection of the bridge, WSDOT said in a press release. During the inspection periods, the draw span will open up for 15 minutes to one hour at a time.
The inspection schedule during which bridge closures can occur includes:
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Monday through Friday, March 5;
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, March 8, through Friday, March 12.
During draw-span openings, the state Highway 104 at Hood Canal Bridge will be closed to all vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Every effort is made to keep bridge closures as short as possible, WSDOT said. That includes crews who will, when possible, combine inspection-related closures with those serving marine traffic.
The 1.2-mile-long bridge connecting the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas will be undergoing a required blue-ribbon inspection to assess its mechanical and electrical systems, WSDOT said. All of the state’s floating bridges undergo similar inspections. The inspections must be done during the day, WSDOT said, so crews can see inside tight spaces and get detailed observations on bridge components and operations. Travelers using the bridge can sign up for email updates and find information on traffic and closures at Hoodcanalbridge.com.
