Hood Canal Bridge closed to traffic nearly 7 hours Sunday due to malfunction

Posted

UPDATE 2:59 p.m. July 10

The Hood Canal Bridge is open again to vehicle traffic on State Route 104, according to WSDOT bridge camera images as of 2:57 p.m. After an earlier malfunction, the bridge reopened at 2:52 p.m.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m. July 10

Still no official word on when the Hood Canal Bridge may reopen to traffic. The west-half drawspan has changed position, based on the bridge camera, but there is no indication when the mechanical problem may be resolved.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m. July 10

The Hood Canal Bridge remains closed to vehicle traffic, with no estimated time of reopening after a mechanical failure. Based on the WSDOT bridge camera view at 12:30 p.m., the west-half span does appear to have been manually lowered closer into position than what it had been most of Sunday morning..

The bridge carries about 16,000 vehicle trips on a busy Saturday or Sunday, as the primary highway connection between the Seattle-Tacoma area and Kitsap County, and the Olympic Peninsula.

It has been "stuck open" since about 8:17 a.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation, which means it is closed to vehicle traffic.

The primary alternate driving route between the peninsula and ferry terminals at Kingston, Bainbridge Island or Bremerton, for example, would be to take U.S. Highway 101 along Hood Canal into Mason County, then turn left on State Route 106 along the canal to connect with SR 3 at Belfair, which leads northeasterly to Bremerton, Silverdale, Kingston, etc.

Dial 511 for WSDOT traffic alerts.

UPDATE 12:02 p.m. July 10

The Hood Canal Bridge remains closed to vehicle traffic, with no estimated time of reopening after a mechanical failure. Based on the WSDOT bridge camera, the west-half span appears to be stuck in the same position it has been most of Sunday morning.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m. July 10

The Hood Canal Bridge remains closed to vehicle traffic, with no estimated time of reopening.

The floating span's west-half drawspan still appears to be stuck, according to the WSDOT bridge camera. A mechanical failure has been reported.

ORIGINAL STORY 10:10 a.m. July 10

Traffic is backed up on both sides of the Hood Canal Bridge, which has been closed to vehicles since the floating span was opened to allow an 8 a.m. marine vessel passage.

As of 10 a.m. Sunday, July 10, the state Department of Transportation announced the bridge would be closed, potentially a few more hours, due to mechanical failure of the west-side drawspan. The WSDOT bridge camera, looking west toward the Jefferson County side, shows the bridge deck partially open, as of 10 a.m..

Crews are in the process of manually closing the bridge, which could take several hours, the WSDOT reported in a press release at 9:57 a.m.. Drivers should be prepared for long delays and consider alternate routes.

"WSDOT apologizes the inconvenience this potential delay poses to travelers and will make every effort to reopen the bridge to vehicular traffic as soon as possible. Federal regulations require WSDOT to open the drawspan to mariners within one hour’s notice," the state agency posted.

FERRY DISRUPTION, TOO

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Washington State Ferries posted a service disruption on the the Port Townsend-Coupeville route. The 10:15 a.m. departure from Port Townsend and the 11 a.m. departure from Coupeville are cancelled. The 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. departures from Port Townsend and the 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. departures from Coupeville sail as scheduled. Because of the service disruption, new reservations are temporarily unavailable. Current reservation holders are prioritized on a first come, first-served basis for all departures until further notice. If reservation holders are unable to travel today due to the service disruptions, they will not be charged no-show fees for unused reservations