SHINE — The Hood Canal Bridge was closed for nearly seven hours Sunday after a mechanical malfunction that morning knocked the lift span out of alignment, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation said.
The lift span came out of alignment during a marine traffic opening at 8 a.m. Sunday.
The bridge reopened just before 3 p.m.
The lift span usually opens 600 feet, but only opened 300 feet because of the mechanical problem. The boat crossing was still able to get to the other side.
“They stopped moving [the lift span] altogether when they realized it wasn’t opening up level like it was supposed to,” said Cara Mitchell, Department of Transportation spokesperson.
“To reduce any further damage to the bridge, they stopped it right then and there.”
Engineers are now working to determine if there was any damage and its possible extent.
They are also working to determine the exact source of the problem.
At about 2:40 p.m., bridge engineers had lowered the lift span back into its lower position by disassembling a guide on the bridge.
They then reinstalled the guide and inspected the bridge before reopening it to traffic.
“We’ve never had something like this happen in recent years,” Mitchell said.
Because the problem had yet to be identified, Mitchell said she didn’t know if this problem could occur again.
Because of the urgency of the malfunction, the State Patrol offered to escort two additional engineers from Olympia to the bridge if they were facing traffic.
It takes two staff members to open the bridge during a normal opening, she said.
While Transportation wasn’t sure exactly what caused the problem, Mitchell said staff are trained in responding to similar situations.
“We’ve [trained] within the last year,” she said.
“The crews are trained on how to respond to a situation like this, but this is the first time any of us can remember actually having to implement it.”
Transportation crews were working Sunday afternoon to remove electronic sign boards that said the bridge was out.
She said the signs couldn’t be turned off remotely, so it would take about an hour before they were all off.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we wrap things up,” she said.
Mitchell said the bridge will continue to open to marine traffic, but only up to 300 feet until engineers get a closer look at the bridge, she said.
If a vessel needs for the bridge to open wider, Transportation will take it on a case-by-case basis, she said.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
