SHINE – Travelers on the Hood Canal Bridge will encounter delays Wednesday and Thursday night and early Friday morning.
State Department of Transportation crews will make temporary repairs to fractured bolts, according to a press release.
The bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and from 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to 12:30 a.m. Thursday, as well as from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday.
It also will be closed from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and from 11:30 p.m. Thursday to 12:30 a.m. Friday, as well as from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday.
During those work hours, crews will open the bridge to traffic for 30 minutes to ease congestion, Transportation said.
Crews could extend the length of the closures to traffic, depending on work progress. All work is subject to weather and tidal activity.
The bolts, part of a system that guides and connects the drawspans together, are located in an area accessible only when the drawspans are open.
Repairs will be done in two phases. Additional closures will be announced as they are scheduled in the weeks ahead, Transportation said.
The temporary repairs are to ensure the bridge can continue to operate through the storm season, the press release said.
Permanent repairs are expected to be done next summer. Dates will be announced when they are scheduled, Transportation said.
Some 18,000 vehicles use the bridge daily, Transportation said.
Bridge closure updates will be posted on Hoodcanal bridge.com.
Drivers also can register for email and text alerts at www.wsdot.wa.gov.
Real-time traveler information is available from the WSDOT app and the WSDOT regional Twitter feed.
