Paint prep under the bridge

Worker activity is visible as one crosses the bridges at Deception Pass, but the real action is under the steel spans. A walk down the stairs leading from the North Whidbey parking lot puts you in a position to see the intricate support and safety systems assembled for workers who are preparing the Deception Pass and Canoe Pass bridges for new coats of primer and paint. Cables have been stretched temporarily, part of a chain link “netting” that offers painters access and protection from a fall. The sound of a pneumatic air gun occasionally fills the air as layers of rusted and chipped paint are removed in preparation for a new coat. It’s a fascinating system, an impressive endeavor that will one day leave these 1935 bridges looking like new. The work is being accomplished under contract with the Washington State Department of Transportation as the bridges are part of State Highway 20.