and, why did it take so long to build the second bridge?
Ferry Service Starts Again
Ferry service to the peninsula was reinstated after the collapse. However, the ferries were no longer privately owned by Mitchell Skansie's Washington Navigation Company. The state purchased two of the company's boats, the Skansonia and the Defiance, to operate between Titlow Beach (Tacoma) and Point Fosdick (on the peninsula).
Bill Skansie, Mitchell's son, was awarded the contract to operate the two ferries, despite the fact a competitor had submitted a lower bid. Eighteen months later the contract was awarded to the Puget Sound Navigation Company of the Black Ball line. The Skansies were left to smaller and less profitable runs, such as McNeil and Fox Islands.
A Ten-Year Gap
The ten-year gap between the first and second bridge was largely the result of the redirection of money, materials, and manpower to the fighting of World War II. After the war, newspaper stories gave conflicting reports about problems getting insurance coverage. Peninsula support for a replacement bridge was just as strong as it had been for the first bridge, and there was some impatience with the delays..