SHINE — State Department of Transportation officials say a broken underwater cable that helps hold the Hood Canal Bridge in place is finally repaired.
Workers discovered the anchor cable hanging slack Aug. 11 during a routine maintenance inspection.
Through a combination of sending divers and a remotely operated vehicle outfitted with a camera into the cold waters of Hood Canal, it was determined the cable broke in about 350 feet of water near one of the bridge’s anchors.
The cable is located on the Kitsap County half of the bridge at the northeast part of the drawspan.
The cable is one of dozens connecting the floating bridge with heavy concrete anchors on the inlet’s floor to keep the span aligned for drawbridge openings and closings.
The anchor itself was not damaged.
Transportation’s Olympic Region spokesman Lloyd D. Brown said Transportation maintenance crews will continue to monitor anchor cables on the bridge’s 43-year-old eastern half.
That’s the half of the floating bridge that’s scheduled to be replaced during an eight-week period in spring 2007.