PORT ANGELES — Major work is on the horizon for the Hood Canal Bridge, where aging components continue to demand attention.
Olympic Region WSDOT Administrator Steve Roark told Clallam County Commissioners this week that a $50 million federal grant will go toward replacing the west half superstructure.
“The superstructure on the west half, the girders that hold up the roadway driving surface, need to be repaired and replaced. That’s the next big project coming on the Hood Canal Bridge. It’s still several years out, but it’s going to be highly impactful, and we’re really going to have to work hard to figure out how to get those girders replaced and still maintain traffic,” said Roark.
Roark noted he oversaw the replacement of the bridge’s east half in 2009, which included closure mitigation strategies such as shuttle and bus service. While no plan is finalized, he said similar measures may be needed when work begins on the west end.
In the meantime, crews continue maintenance to address divots forming in the rollers that guide the draw span, a problem that contributed to recent extended closures.
“We are still working on the center locks. That work doesn’t look like it’s going to be finished this year. I know this has been going on for years, but we have to fabricate everything for this bridge. Some of the components are coming from France, and they didn’t quite fit the way we had hoped. So we’re regrouping and figuring out how to get that work done next year.”
Roark added that marine openings have increased, with 190 since June, driven largely by recreational traffic. Federal regulations require the state to open the span for vessels, though Roark said WSDOT is working to limit early openings that disrupt peak-hour drivers.
The Hood Canal Bridge carries about 20,000 vehicles a day and is considered a vital link for the Olympic Peninsula.