The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Plans for Puget Island bridge work are coming together, according to Tamara Greenwall from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The bridge will be closed at night when crews are at work. A start date has yet to be determined, as well as the exact overnight hours that the bridge will need to be closed, but the project should take no more than 80 days. Crews will work eight hours a night, five nights a week, until the project is completed.

The first stage of the project will focus on replacing the bridge deck, which has not seen any proper care since the 1980s. It will be replaced with a steel grate deck, which will require less maintenance and dispense with any future need for a weight limit.

If WSDOT replaced the bridge decking with the same materials in use today, Greenwall explained, they would have to consider a weight limit.

During the working hours, the ferry will be running constantly. If the ferry breaks down, work will stop on the bridge until it can be repaired.

“We want to ensure there is always one way to get off the island,” Greenwall said.

WSDOT has been meeting with emergency personnel, utilities, the post office and other delivery services to make certain that their services can still be provided.

Emergency personnel will be able to get on and off the island during an emergency.

The closures will only be necessary for the first portion of the project. There will be no work on weekends or during the Puget Island Garage and Yard Sale.

A temporary signal will be set up for the second stage of the project, painting. One lane will be open, and people should expect short delays.

“We’re trying to have as little impact as possible,” Greenwall said.

The entire project is expected to cost $13.9 million.

WSDOT will hold an open house to discuss the Puget Island bridge project on February 23 at the Norse Hall from 5-7 p.m.