The Washington state Transportation Department says the Hood Canal floating bridge has reopened after a $500 million renovation project. The bridge had been closed since May 1.
The first car crossed the span late Wednesday night after the contractor and Transportation Department crews completed 20 test openings of the floating bridge’s center draw span.
The drawbridge needed to pass a final test of opening and closing 20 consecutive times without a glitch, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Becky Hixson said.
While the bridge has been closed, drivers have had to rely on special ferries and long alternative land routes.
A special Edmonds-Port Townsend vehicle ferry ended after Wednesday’s run. Drivers are encouraged to check road reports at www.HoodCanalBridge.com or by calling 877-595-4222.
The Hood Canal floating bridge, which links the northern Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, closed May 1 for what was expected to be a six-week renovation.
The $500 million project replaced pontoons on the older, eastern half of the Highway 104 bridge that opened in 1961. The west side of the bridge was replaced after it sank in a 1979 windstorm. It reopened in 1982.
The new east section will have wider lanes and safety shoulders for the 20,000 vehicles that cross the bridge each day.
Progress reports were to be posted every two hours on the Hood Canal Bridge blog and the latest project photos are available at the Flickr Web site.
The Hood Canal bridge reopening is scheduled to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday with a ribbon-cutting at Salsbury Point County Park in Kitsap County, and from noon to 8 p.m. in a Bridge Opening Bash in Port Townsend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439, sheets@heraldnet.com.
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