SHINE — Traffic delays on the Hood Canal Bridge are expected between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Delays also are expected during the same hours April 1-5.
An in-depth inspection of the bridge will require multiple weekday drawspan openings that will close the bridge to vehicular traffic, the state Department of Transportation said.
The length of time the drawspan operations will delay traffic will vary depending on the requirements of each individual test being performed on the bridge’s operating systems.
Drivers are advised to expect delays ranging from 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
Staff will aim for minimizing impacts to vehicular traffic by combining inspection-related openings with marine openings and conducting each test as quickly as possible, DOT said in a press release.
The Hood Canal Bridge will undergo a required blue ribbon inspection that includes an overall assessment of the bridge’s mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems. All DOT floating bridges undergo similar inspections, the department said.
The inspections occur during daylight hours so inspectors can see inside tight spaces and get detailed observations of bridge components and operations.
Hood Canal Bridge text messages are available by sending a text message to 468311 with the words “wsdot hood.”
