Saturday’s party, inspired by the Wednesday reopening of the Hood Canal Bridge, drew cheers, a few tears and drove bridge bicyclists into high gear.
The event kicked off in the morning in North Kitsap County where, with the bridge’s gleaming new east half as a backdrop, more than 400 people heard bridge project officials and others praise the work on the nearly $500 million project.
The Bridge Opening Bash crossed the bridge to Port Townsend in the afternoon and evening where speeches, music, dancing, art and an upbeat spirit filled the air downtown.
As state Secretary Paula Hammond wielded scissors — along with several other officials tied to the project — a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially reopened the 1.5-mile structure, the longest floating bridge on saltwater in the world.
Hammond, calling the bridge “an engineering marvel,” swung over to Port Townsend in the afternoon, where she talked about a new 64-car ferry that is under construction for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
Bicyclists
“I’m so happy to see the bicyclists here today,” Hammond noted in her dedication speech at Salsbury Point State Park in Kitsap County, about a quarter mile north of the bridge’s east end.
“We’re glad to provide the recreational link.”
A contingent of Jefferson County and Port Townsend cyclists crossed the bridge, among them Jon Muellner of Port Townsend, who appreciated the wider emergency lanes of the refurbished bridge.
He and other cyclists rode to and from Port Townsend to attend the Kitsap event.
There were no numbers available Saturday for the amount of traffic that has crossed the bridge since it re-opened Wednesday night, project officials said.
Hammond said that 70,000 riders used the water shuttle service — provided by contractor Victoria Express of Port Angeles — across Hood Canal during the project between May 1 and Wednesday night.
During the closure, Jefferson Transit drove about 56,000 miles, hauling about 66,000 passengers and taking about 9,300 tripes to the temporary Shine Pit Park and Ride and South Point ferry dock, said Mike Pollack, Jefferson Transit’s bridge project transportation manager.
Heavy clouds threatening light rainfall failed to darken the pride and emotion expressed by those close to the project for years.
With band director Garth Gourley directing, Chimacum High School Band performed.
Phil Wallace, bridge contractor General Construction Company area manager, said the company was happy the project ended eight days ahead of its deadline.
“We have 1.6 million hours of labor expended on this job,” he said, adding that it was a $90 million payroll.
During her speaking engagement in downtown Port Townsend, where she was introduced by Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval early Saturday afternoon, Hammond joked, “We have such a sordid history, me and Port Townsend,” drawing laughter from a small crowd at a Union Wharf music stage.
Hammond, ferries
Hammond referred to her having pulled from service in late 2007 the 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries. The action, taken because of safety concerns, left the town without vehicle ferry service over the holidays.
The Port Townsend-Keystone ferry route is now served by the smaller, lighter Steilacoom II, which the state leases from Pierce County.
Hammond then announced that work on a 64-car ferry for the route was under way this week at both Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle and Nichols Bros. Boatbuilders on Whidbey Island.
“I think we are on our way to a long-term ferry solution,” Hammond said.
Work on the hull of a new 64-car ferry to serve the Port Townsend-Keystone route begins this month at Todd Shipyards.
The ferry loosely modeled after Massachusetts’ Island Home ferry will be topped with the vessel’s superstructure under construction at Nichols Bros. Boat Builders in Freeland.
The hull with the support structure would then floated from Todd to the Everett Shipyards waterfront in March 2010 for final outfitting.
The state requires the vessel be on the water by June 2010 for sea trials.
Sandoval said she was impressed with the people “who dedicated the last five years on [the bridge] work project, and they were emotional about their work.”
Chamber president-elect Kris Nelson cut the ribbon at the new chamber visitor center and administrative office.
The center, which replaces the old location at Jefferson Street and Sims Way, was officially oped at Haines Place Park and Ride. The new center is a joint project of the city of Port Townsend, the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce and Jefferson Transit, which owns the park and ride.
“It’s really good to see it finally opened,” Nelson said of the center, which saw some work delays but managed to open before the peak tourism season.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
