SHINE — Widening of the Jefferson County half of the Hood Canal Bridge will require nighttime lane restrictions and other traffic revisions starting next week.
The widening project is scheduled to begin Monday, said Lloyd D. Brown, state Department of Transportation Olympic region communication manager.
Nighttime lane restrictions and traffic delays to place a barrier next to the eastbound lane and re-stripe new lanes along the bridge will occur during the weeks of April 19 and 26.
Work hours are 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Kiewit-General Construction Co. of Poulsbo — which holds the $204 million contract to retrofit the western half and replace the Kitsap County half of the floating bridge — will work through October, Brown said.
The project also includes removing the existing bridge rail, installing new support beams and adding deck width.
Current construction plans call for widening the bridge deck’s south side this fall and finishing the north side by late fall 2005.
Construction will reduce the current 12-foot lanes to 11 feet and cut shoulder width from 3 feet to 1 foot, Brown said.
Wide-load vehicles will require special permission to cross the bridge during the construction period.
Permits are available by calling the state Department of Transportation’s Port Orchard maintenance office at 360-874-3050.
Pedestrians will be prohibited on the bridge during the construction phase, Brown said.
Bicyclists must ride in traffic across the bridge, he said.