Now that Port Angeles has signed Westport Shipyard Inc., will a multimillion-dollar “graving yard” be the next big project for its industrial waterfront?
State Department of Transportation officials could decide soon on locating a 10- to 20-acre construction area on the harbor to build components for 2006’s Hood Canal Bridge replacement project.
“Port Angeles is in the final running for the graving yard — and an announcement could come anytime, maybe before the end of the week,” city Economic Development Director Tim Smith said Tuesday.
The state would oversee the building of cement pontoons and anchors to replace worn-out components in the eastern half of the floating bridge.
A graving yard to build pontoons traditionally includes a cement plant and huge graving docks — on-shore dry docks — dug deep into the ground which can be flooded once the pontoons are completed.
The pontoons could then be floated into the harbor and towed to Hood Canal.
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