Many in Jefferson County are breathing a sigh of relief over the upcoming summer tourism season.

There may actually be one, after all.

Crucial work to repair the Hood Canal Bridge has been pushed off to May, June, and September, the Washington State Department of Transportation has announced.

"What can I say; this is public process at its finest," Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton said.

"I am sure that everyone appreciates WSDOT’s responsiveness to concerns from the Olympic Peninsula and the work schedule for this necessary work seems much palatable to travel of all sorts, from emergency, to commerce, to commuting and tourism," Brotherton added. "Thanks to the WSDOT for being flexible."

The state had previously planned four full-weekend shutdowns of the span, during the height of the tourism season on the Olympic Peninsula.

And with that work weather-dependent, some had stressed concerns that the timeframe for repairs would extend from July and August to even later — putting Port Townsend's Wooden Boat Festival and the three-day music event called THING at risk.

Here's the new closure schedule: 

May 13 to May 17

10 p.m. Saturday, May 13, to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 14;

11 p.m. Monday, May 15, to 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 16;

11 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, May 17;

11 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, to 4 a.m. Thursday, May 18;

10 p.m. Saturday, May 20, to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 21;

11 p.m. Monday, May 22, to 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 23;

11 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, May 24;

11 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, to 4 a.m. Thursday, May 25;

10 p.m. Saturday, June 10, to 10 a.m. Sunday, June 11;

11 p.m. Monday, June 12, to 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 13;

11 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, June 14;

11 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, to 4 a.m. Thursday, June 15;

10 p.m. Saturday, June 17, to 10 a.m. Sunday, June 18;

11 p.m. Monday, June 19, to 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 20;

11 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, June 21; and 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, to 4 a.m. Thursday, June 22.

The work in May and June will focus on restoring the pyramids on the bridge that help guide the two halves of the floating bridge together. 

The draw span will stay open during the work, which will be done by using boats and cranes in the water.

Officials also noted that emergency-response crossings on the bridge will not happen during the overnight closures in May and June. 

Additional work is also planned for September, starting on Monday, Sept. 10, as crews will update the mechanism that securely connects both halves of the floating bridge and install new shock absorbers. 

State officials said that work may include both weekday and weekend nighttime closures. The times and dates for that piece of the project will be announced in the summer.  

State officials said the move to abandon the four long-term weekend closures of the bridge will mean doing the repairs in three phases.

The phased approach will allow the project's contractor to begin making repairs in late spring and early summer. Officials said weather conditions should be more favorable and keep the closure hours more manageable for residents and visitors alike.