We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked Hood Canal Bridge closure questions. If you don't see an answer you need, e-mail us at orfeedback@wsdot.wa.gov or call 1-360-357-2703.
Questions from:
Travel
How do I find out whether the bridge is closed to traffic?
Travelers can sign up to receive text messages to ensure they’ll know whenever there is a bridge opening in progress or an incident is affecting traffic on the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Sign up now.
How do boaters contact the bridge tower to schedule a marine opening?
If it is imperative that the bridge be opened for your vessel, call on VHF 13 or call (360) 779-3233. Please give at least one hour of notice for the bridge crew to arrive.
Are there any Notices to Mariners in effect?
The Hood Canal Bridge is limited to 300-foot openings. The west half has been taken out of service and will continue to be out of service until approximately Oct. 1, 2009.
What are the clearances under the trusses?
Most smaller boats can pass under the trusses at either end of the bridge where, depending on the tides, vertical clearance is 31.4 feet at the west end and 50.7 feet at the east end (both are calculated at a MHHW of 7.0).
Shoals exist around the bridge and strong currents are often present. Because of the shoals, the eastern span is the recommended passage (see above). The vicinity of Sisters Rocks, south of the bridge and off the west shore, is extremely hazardous. These two rocks are dry at half tide. A large lighted beacon is on the southernmost rock, however, its neighbor is unmarked.
If traveling south along the west side of the canal, turn east immediately after passing under the bridge and hug the bridge until mid-span before turning south again. If traveling north, aim for mid-span until very close to the bridge, turn west and hug the bridge until turning north to go under the span.
How long do bridge openings take?
Typical bridge openings take approximately 30 minutes. This allows bridge crews to retract one or both of the draw spans (depending on the size of the vessel) between 300 and 600 feet. Navy crossings and those involving slower moving or multiple vessels may take longer.
It is important to note that car traffic can take much longer to clear, especially when SR 104 and connecting routes are already busy.
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General Bridge
Why don't the fog horns work yet and where's the wind data?
As part of the Hood Canal Bridge's west-half retrofit, certain systems are being updated to ensure maximum performance and reliability. Electrical connections are still being made between the east and west halves, which affects some systems including (but not limited to) the fog horns, wind data and tidal readings. As the bridge nears completion in December 2009, all systems will be brought online.
Why does the bridge sometimes close to traffic?
There are three reasons the Hood Canal Bridge closes to traffic: inclement weather, marine traffic and maintenance.
- Weather -- WSDOT monitors the bridge during inclement weather. When wind speeds reach more than 40 mph for 15 minutes or longer, the bridge is closed to traffic to maintain its structural integrity and keep drivers safe.
- Marine Traffic -- For security reasons, WSDOT cannot give advance notice of these openings. The bridge is usually closed to traffic for about 30 minutes. Traffic delays may be longer.
- Maintenance -- The bridge is occasionally closed to traffic for maintenance. Inspections, testing, repairs and other activities are scheduled in advance and closure information is posted on signs near the bridge, Highway Advisory Radio, the WSDOT Web site, and is available by calling 511 or by signing up for text message alerts.
Why isn’t the bridge being widened to four lanes?
The current project to replace the Hood Canal Bridge is funded to only preserve and maintain the existing structure not to provide capacity improvements. However, this project makes it possible for the bridge to accommodate four lanes in the future by adding wider transition spans, truss and roadway.
How can I see weather near the bridge?
Traffic cameras placed on and near the Hood Canal Bridge aren't just limited to informing motorists about current road conditions, they also provide a good look at what type of Northwest weather is passing through the region.
How does the bridge open and close?
We have two video clips of the draw span opening on this site as well as an in-depth description of the process. See the differences from the newer west-half and the older east-half in how they open.
How many people drive across the bridge each day?
During the weekdays, about 16,000 vehicles per day cross the bridge. During the weekends that number rises to 20,000 vehicles per day.
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Construction and Bridge Information
How does a concrete bridge float?
A floating bridge floats on the surface of the water and is held in place by anchors. The flat, floating portion of the bridge is made up of pontoons. The superstructure and roadway are built on top of the pontoons. To float, a structure needs buoyancy. The rule of buoyancy is that anything that weighs less than the water it displaces will float. Pontoons are large, concrete structures that are made up of hollow cells that act like the hull of a ship. Because the pontoon’s immense weight is spread out over a very broad area, it floats.
Why build a floating bridge?
While a floating bridge might seem pretty exotic, it’s really the only cost-effective solution that works for spanning Hood Canal. The bridge is located at one of the narrowest points of the canal, but the channel is still about 1.5 miles wide and up to 340 feet deep, with several hundred feet of mud below that before hitting bedrock. If a suspension bridge like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge were built here instead of a floating bridge, its towers would have to extend 810 feet above the bedrock (500+ feet below the water surface). That’s taller than the Columbia Tower in Seattle. Total cost would be about $4 billion – four times the cost of this project.
How many floating bridges exist?
There are only 11 permanent floating bridges in the world, and four of them are in the Puget Sound region. The Washington State Department of Transportation is a pioneer in designing and building floating bridges and holds the record for the first and the longest floating bridges.
How can I get more information about this project?
WSDOT is working hard to provide timely, useful information to the public. Checking this Web site periodically is just one way to stay in touch. The project also publishes a monthly project status report. View past monthly reports...
What did WSDOT do with the old pontoons?
WSDOT sold the pontoons to Marker Development (B.C. Ltd.) in Canada for use as a pier and boat marina in Sidney, Victoria, B.C. More information...
What did WSDOT do with the old trusses?
The old east and west trusses were salvaged and sold for scrap as part of the contract with Kiewit-General. The old trusses, due to their age, location and size, could not be reused within the state transportation system.
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