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Hood Canal Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 47°51′36″N 122°37′30″W / 47.86°N 122.625°W |
Carries | SR 104 |
Crosses | Hood Canal of Puget Sound |
Locale | Kitsap and Jefferson counties, Washington, U.S. |
Official name | William A. Bugge Bridge |
Other name(s) | Hood Canal Floating Bridge |
Maintained by | Washington State Department of Transportation |
Characteristics | |
Design | Pontoon bridge with retractable draw span |
Total length | 7,869 ft (1.49 mi; 2.40 km) |
Longest span | 600 ft (183 m) (drawspan) |
History | |
Construction start | January 1958 |
Construction cost | $26.6 million |
Opened | August 12, 1961 |
Rebuilt | 1979–1982 2006-2009 |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | 13327 (2002)[1] |
Location | |
The Hood Canal Bridge (officially William A. Bugge Bridge) is a floating bridge in the northwest United States, located in western Washington.[2] It carries State Route 104 across Hood Canal in Puget Sound and connects the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. At 7,869 feet (1.490 mi; 2.398 km) in length (floating portion 6,521 feet (1.235 mi; 1.988 km)), it is the longest floating bridge in the world located in a saltwater tidal basin, and the third longest floating bridge overall.[3] It opened in 1961 and was the second concrete floating bridge constructed in Washington. Since that time, it has become a vital link for local residents, freight haulers, commuters, and recreational travelers. The convenience it provides has had a major impact on economic development, especially in eastern Jefferson County.[4]
The bridge is officially named after William A. Bugge (1900–1992), the director of the Department of Highways from 1949 to 1963, who was a leader in the planning and construction of the bridge.