Date:  Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Contact: Joe Irwin, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2703

TUMWATER – An e-mail and text message service that alerts motorists to SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge marine openings is now available.

Those who subscribe receive a brief electronic message that lets them know when they’ll be delayed due to a marine opening or a traffic-impacting incident on the bridge.

“This is a smart use of technology, which was tested when the bridge was recently closed for construction,” said state Rep. Christine Rolfes, who approached WSDOT with the idea of providing this service. “It will help regular bridge users and neighbors to make more informed decisions about their routes.”

The SR 104 Hood Canal floating bridge periodically opens its center draw span to allow tall marine vessels to pass by the bridge. Those openings stop traffic, often inconveniencing local drivers used to a quick trip across the 1.5-mile-long span.

The alerts estimate the road-closure duration. The service does not alert subscribers when the bridge reopens to vehicular traffic.

To subscribe, go to: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=WADOT_190, or visit the WSDOT Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/, click on “E-mail updates” in the upper right-hand corner, type in your e-mail address, then click on “Hood Canal Bridge Alerts,” one of several WSDOT e-mail and text alert services.

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