SHINE — The state Department of Transportation plans to close the Hood Canal Bridge to vehicular traffic overnight on three nights this week.
The state agency last week canceled planned closures on Wednesday and Thursday, citing adverse weather conditions. The next scheduled five-hour closures are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights this week.
Here is the schedule:
• 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 to 4 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19.
• 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 to 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20.
• 11 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 to 4 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21.
During an overnight closure, the bridge will not open for any traffic, including emergency response.
The closures are to allow crews to replace thick industrial-sized rubber bumpers that are affixed to the end of each half of the bridge, according to Doug Adamson, DOT spokesperson. The bumpers help prevent wear on the concrete floating pontoons.
DOT had intended to have the work completed last spring/summer, but supply chain issues delayed the installation, he said.
This is the fourth time since the week before Christmas that DOT has scheduled the overnight closures. Workers use a floating work platform to reach the areas needed to install new bumpers while the draw span is closed to through-traffic. So calm waters, light winds, and favorable tides are required, Adamson said.
“We schedule the work a week out based on the forecast at that time,” Adamson said in an email. “As you know, our Pacific Northwest weather is fickle and can change in short order. This means we will continue to find weather windows until we can complete the work.”
To discover if the closures have been canceled in real time, dial 5-1-1, see www.wsdot.com/traffic or download the WSDOT mobile app. Information for doing so is at www.wsdot.wa.gov/travel/travel-information-phone. Email alerts also are available.
