Date:  Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Contact: Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, 360-507-4261

SHINE – A mechanical issue with the new drive system on the east half of the Hood Canal Bridge has the bridge closed to marine traffic this morning. The bridge is currently open to vehicle traffic.

During a routine opening of the bridge Monday afternoon, the draw span moved back into the closed position quicker than it should have, causing superficial damage to the bridge. WSDOT engineers say this type of routine opening has been performed several dozen times over the past few months.

“We need to keep the bridge closed to marine traffic until we diagnose why the motors accelerated,” said Jeff Cook, Hood Canal Bridge Project Engineer. “We expect to have a better understanding of what happened later today.”

Three months ago, following the east half replacement and before the bridge reopened to traffic, WSDOT and Kiewit-General completed 20 consecutive error-free openings to meet operational standards. Crews have opened the bridge for marine traffic approximately 120 times since reopening the bridge to all traffic June 3.

WSDOT will notify the public and the media as we learn more from the diagnostic testing.

In June, WSDOT and Kiewit-General completed replacement of the bridge’s east half and east and west trusses, but the project is still under contract. Work is scheduled to continue through December 2009 as crews complete electrical, hydraulic and mechanical upgrades and make final adjustments. 

For more information on the Hood Canal Bridge Project, please visit http://www.hoodcanalbridge.com/.

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