Hood Canal

In 14 days and about 4 hours the Hood Canal Bridge will close. This is one of 3 floating bridges in our area and it is time to replace it. You don't want a bridge sinking in one of our winter wind storms.

Normally a bridge closing is annoying and causes a driver to find new ways around town. Here in Port Angeles we dealt with this, as two bridges that linked the eastern part of town with the western part were closed for over a year while being replaced. It was annoying, however we all found new ways around our little city. The Hood Canal closure will be a bit different. This is the most convenient way off of the Olympic Peninsula. Otherwise if we want to drive to the mall it will be about a 3 hour drive. Seattle will now be about 4 1/2 to 5 depending on traffic. The difference is caused by having to drive south along the Hood Canal to Olympia and then north to Tacoma and Seattle.

Gearing up for the closure has been going on now for almost a year. Plans are in place for a foot traffic only ferry across the canal with bus service on the Kitsap side. Hopefully there will be no need to use this service. All doctors appointments in the city are out of the way and I think I can survive 6 to 8 weeks with out the mall and the larger craft stores. ;) The closure should end before tourist season really begins and we are praying right now for the project to stay its 6 week schedule.

More info can be found here about the bridge, options, and the closure: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr104hoodcanalbridgeeast/