SHINE – The Washington State Department of Transportation and Kiewit-General crews have begun building docks at South Point in Jefferson County and Lofall in Kitsap County. The docks will serve as the launch points for temporary passenger-only water shuttle service during the Hood Canal Bridge closure that begins May 1.

The first of four 80- to 100-foot long pilings were driven at South Point Tuesday last week. Crews began driving the remaining four piles at Lofall on Wednesday.

Pile-driving work, which is scheduled to conclude within two weeks, will take place within the state-mandated fish window that ensures fish are not affected. The DOT is taking additional environmental precautions around work zones to reduce underwater noise.

Once complete, the pilings will secure two 30-foot by 80-foot floating docks in place. The docks and 150-foot gangways will be installed in late March and early April, providing travelers access to the water shuttle service.

“The six-week period won’t be easy,” said Dave Ziegler, Principal Engineer for the Hood Canal Bridge Project. “But we’re looking forward to providing the water shuttle as an alternative so people can avoid driving around the canal during the closure.”

The DOT is encouraging people to get ready for the closure by reviewing their transportation options to determine the best alternate route now.

For more information and “Get Around” options, visit www.HoodCanalBridge.com.