Eighth Street Bridges Fiddle While Port Angeles Burns

The 8th Street bridges were originally scheduled to be completed in November 2008. Then the date got moved back three months to February 2nd, 2009. That’s this coming Monday, and the bridges won’t be completed. Nobody knows how soon the bridges will be ready.

Meanwhile, nearby business owners are suffering more than ever from the isolation caused by this project. Barb Townsend, supervisor at St. Vincent De Paul thrift store, said: “We’re just barely hanging on to staying open.”

Steve Bridges, owner of three businesses between the two bridges, said: “I'm running up against the wall.” He said his three business are “done for” if the bridges aren’t open by March. “I would hate to get this far, this close, and be forced into saying that I can't make it anymore.”

He estimated that about 500 vehicles go past his stores every day. Before the bridge repair project started in June 2007, that number was closer to 12,000 vehicles every day.

Weather has caused some of the delays, and the uncertainty of when the bridges will be open. Weather. You mean it might rain? In the Pacific Northwest, in the winter? Say it isn’t so.