Narrows Bridge: Opening Day Live Updates


Beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, July 16, Kitsap Sun reporter Ed Friedrich began posting live updates about traffic conditions, toll booth conditions, wait times and other live information from both sides of the newly opened Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Motorists are reminded that a toll will be required to cross the bridge as soon as the newly built span is opened on Monday morning.

Friedrich's reports follow, beginning with the most recent:


Fourth Report: Blasting Through as Commute Tapers

This must not be a fluke, because traffic is still blasting through at 8 a.m. I hope those who are continuing on to I-5 don't get jammed up at Nalley Valley, but at least they're cutting some time off their commute with this new bridge.

It's 55 to 60 mph from Wollochet all the way across the bridge. We joined Steve Zugschwerdt, the photographer, and he's shooting from the pickup bed as we cross the bridge. His truck doesn't have a transponder, so we went through the toll booths, thinking they weren't going to let him ride back there. No problem. Anthony the toll booth worker just smiled for the camera. He said he wasn't allowed to give his last name. Everybody gets a Good To Go thumbs up as they leave the booths.

This is the most crowded the booths have been in our four trips, but we still haven't seen more than three cars lined up. DOT was worried that so many people would be paying manually that traffic would back onto the main lanes and mess them up.

It took just 6 ½ minutes to travel from Wollochet across the bridge, even going through the toll booth and slowing way down on the bridge so Steve could get some shots.

Keep watching for updated reports from Kitsap Sun reporter Ed Friedrich throughout the morning as the Kitsap Sun monitors traffic conditions on Highway 16 near the new span.




Third Report: Still Full Speed Ahead

It's 7:05 now and, again, we're getting on Highway 16 at Wollochet Drive. The ramp meter still isn't turned on. We merge easily onto the highway and it's like a drag strip all the way past Olympic Drive to 36th Street.

We're racing at 60-plus and could go faster except there's a sheriff's car beside us. It's amazing how traffic seems so light when it's actually moving.

We slow to 50 mph at the toll booths, which don't even have a car at each one. Everybody must've put on their transponders over the weekend, like us. There are a bunch of lookie-loos at the booths and just before the bridge because we have to brake to 40 mph approaching it for no apparent reason. But it's back to 55 mph all the way across the new bridge.

The trip took exactly as long as the first one at 5:20 this morning -- 5 minutes, 36 seconds -- when you'd think this would be the height of the commute.

If this is what it's going to be like every day, that $849 million might've been worth it.

The westbound lanes are totally clear of workers now, so it's 60-plus mph all the way home.


Second Report: More Traffic But No Backups

At 6:18, the traffic is much heavier. Enter again at Wollochet Drive. The on-ramp meters still aren't on. This run is slightly slower. Maintain 55 mph most of the way, slowing to 50 where traffic merges in at Olympic Drive and 36th Street.

Go through the toll booths this time. Stupidly get behind two cars when there's nobody at a couple of the booths. Even at the booth, the scanner reads our transponder and we get waved through, saving our $3 cash.

The six toll booth lanes merge to one, but there isn't enough traffic for thet funneling to create any problems. By the time we merge with the main lines we're at 50 mph and cross the new bridge at 55 mph. This time, it takes 6 ½ minutes to get from Wollochet to the other side.

Most of the work westbound is now finished. There are only two lanes open approaching the bridge, which is backing traffic up the hill some, but it opens up to three lanes on the bridge itself and from there it's a sprint back to Gig Harbor.

With one less lane than the new bridge, and skinnier lanes, it will be interesting to see how the evening commute fares.


First Report: Smooth Sailing So Far

Clouds are a wispy orange at 5:18 in the morning and headlights are losing their effect with the dawn.

At 5:22 a.m., entered Highway 16 eastbound at the Wollochet Drive ramp. It wasn't being metered yet.

Traffic was light and we immediately reached 60 mph and maintained the speed limit past Olympic Drive and the 36th Street on-ramp. Slowed to 50 mph for no apparent reason along the toll booths, which had a few drivers paying but no lines.

Once past the booths, sped right back up to 60 mph across the new bridge itself. The lanes are roomy and smooth. Traffic remained light, with a small percentage of vehicles in the car-pool lanes that begin at Olympic Drive.

The five miles from Wollochet to the Tacoma side of the bridge took five minutes at nearly full speed the whole way.

The contractor is still working on getting the westbound lanes in order. The 1950 bridge was restricted to driving in the far right lane. Many construction trucks are out with amber lights flashing in the early light.

Once across the bridge a second lane is available. The work, going against the commute, isn't causing any problems.
