Date:  Thursday, April 02, 2009

Contact: Rumina Suafoa, Project Engineer, 253-534-3100
              Kelly Stowe, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2716

TACOMA – The drive across the Tacoma Narrows is safer than ever, and with a new crossover barrier installation project set to begin in May that level of safety grows even more.

WSDOT this week awarded Sumner-based Petersen Brothers, Inc. a $199,000 contract to install crossover barriers in the medians on State Route 16 on both the Gig Harbor and Tacoma ends of the two bridges.

Since the second bridge opened nearly two years ago, safety and travel times have improved significantly. These new barriers reduce the likelihood that vehicles approaching the bridge will cross into oncoming traffic, while still allowing a U-turn route for emergency vehicles.

The barriers also can be moved to divert traffic from one bridge to another in the event of a major blocking collision or bridge closure. The work is funded as part of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project, and is expected to take two weeks to complete. The construction project supports two jobs.

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