PI bridge closures set to start July 23

Full night time closures of the SR 409 Puget Island bridge are scheduled to begin Monday, July 23

"The full closure is necessary while crews remove aged timber decking and install a new deck, Tamara Greenwell, Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officer said in a Friday press release.

Closure details:

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Monday, July 23 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 24

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 24 until 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 25

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 until 5 a.m. Thursday, July 26

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 26 until 5 a.m. Friday July 27

Looking ahead, overnight closures of the entire bridge can occur nightly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings, Greenwell said. No total bridge closures are permitted between 5 a.m. on Fridays through 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Outside of total bridge closure times, alternating single-lane closures will remain in place, around-the-clock until the project is completed.

"For everyone's safety, the speed limit across the entire bridge span is 25 mph," Greenwell said. "Please be sure to slow down and give crews room to work.

"We are working with local emergency services to ensure emergency access on and off the island during bridge closures. To ensure travel access on and off the island, the Wahkiakum County ferry will run during the bridge closure hours, free of charge. In the event of a mechanical issue with the ferry or if the ferry is inoperable, our contractor will reopen the bridge as quickly as possible.

"In case the bridge does not open at the scheduled 5 a.m. time, the Wahkiakum County Department of Emergency Management has created a notification system to alert you of the delay. If you would like to be added to the notification list, please text the word: BRIDGE to 474747 or email your cell phone number to Beau Renfro at renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us, or call 360-795-7876. The text option is preferred."

Travelers can get updated closure information the department's Travel Advisory web page: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/southwest/construction/ or get current travel conditions on the mobile app: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Inform/mobile.htm

"Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about this project, and thank you for your patience as we work to complete this important bridge preservation work," Greenwell said.