Hood Canal Bridge, Pontoon bridge between Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula, United States
Hood Canal Bridge spans 2,398 meters (7,869 feet) across the saltwater tidal basin, using 23 concrete pontoons that support vehicle traffic between two peninsulas. The floating structure connects the Kitsap Peninsula to the Olympic Peninsula across one of the busiest waterways in the Pacific Northwest.
A major failure occurred during a 1979 storm when winds reaching 120 miles per hour (190 kilometers per hour) caused the western section to sink. Reconstruction took three years and resulted in an improved design with stronger anchoring systems.
Construction work in 2003 uncovered the Tse-whit-zen archaeological site, containing remains of a Klallam village that stood for 2,700 years. The discovery led to extensive excavation and recovery of artifacts before work could proceed.
Washington State Department of Transportation closes the crossing to vehicles when wind speeds exceed 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour) for more than 15 minutes. Travelers should check weather forecasts and consider alternate routes when storms are predicted.
Each floating pontoon section contains 93 individual cells and weighs around 5,000 tons, secured by steel cables to concrete anchors beneath the water. The pontoons move with the tides and adapt to water level changes of up to 16 feet (5 meters).
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