System Renovation

In 1999, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) decided it was time to replace the bridge's original control system. The old system was becoming obsolete and required increasing amounts of maintenance work and repairs. It was decided that the rehabilitation project would include installing a new bridge control system and a new DC motor drive system.

The WSDOT wanted a non-proprietary system that could be operated from a control desk located in the bridge tower. This demanded the ability to control traffic gates and lights, channel lights, load limits, trunnion limits, and the drive motors operating both the North and South bridge leafs. Furthermore, the WSDOT required that the original 75 year old series wound DC motors be reused in the new system.