I heard on the radio this morning and saw it this evening on the news that the Hood Canal bridge is going to be closed for 4-6 weeks in 2006 for major renovations.

Thank God this is taking place in May and not say March as there will be no way to get your rig over to Forks if you live in the Puget Sound Basin without totally driving around.

Thought you would all like to know so when you plan your springer trips to Forks in May for 2006, you make sure you have a vehichle and driftboat waiting for you on the other side.

I used to live 1 minute from the ferry in Edmonds and I still drove around South because it is a dead split time wise between driving around and riding the ferry to Kingston etc....

Probably doing myself a disservice by telling my fellow Pugetropolytes the scoop...I've made both drives over a hundred times....

See you on the Hoh....

If everything is still going as they once said it would then what they are using the 4-6 weeks for is to actually incorprorate a new bridge.The had planed to build the new bridge right along side the old one.

I wonder if the new one will have the fishing area on the lower deck.
That thing is pretty cool, also pretty rare.

stlhdh20, I'd like to know which way you drove "around south" that was quicker than taking the Edmonds ferry... unless you're talking about summer ferry traffic, with three-boat waits, I can't see how driving around is faster? If you know a secret, let me in on it!!

I make the Blyn (Sequim Bay) to Seattle (Ballard) commute about four times a month, it takes me about 40 minutes to get to Kingston, I usually decide when I hit the Hood Canal Bridge whether I'm going to do Kingston or Edmonds, but it's usually Kingston for me, then it's maybe 10 of 15 minute wait for the ferry, a 25 minute crossing, and 30 minutes to drive from Edmonds to Ballard. I usually plan on 2 hours for the whole trip.

On the other hand, I know it takes me an hour and a half to drive from Blyn to the Tacoma Narrows bridge, and I can't see how it could take less than a half hour to get from the Tacoma Narrows bridge to Edmonds (in order to beat the ferry time)... if you know how to do that, please let me know.

-N.

Okay here you go -

I was basically talking only about driving to Forks...after thinking about it a little now that Sequim bypass is in place it makes it a dead split...

South to Olympia, Aberdeen, Amanda Park, Forks...doing slightly over the speed limit (5 over) I could make it to Forks in four hours flat. Living one mile from the ferry dock in the dead of winter with no wait I could make it to Forks in four hours flat...I know people think I'm crazy when I tell them this but, if I were driving to the Hoh it is without a doubt whatsoever faster to drive 'around south'.

Average time from Kingston to Forks is about 2 hrs, 15 minutes. Ive done it quicker with 2 hours being my best time and its taking me much longer as well.

Would never consider driving around!