Rescuers pulled to safety a worker who fell about 15 feet into an access cell in a Hood Canal Bridge pontoon Wednesday morning.

The Shelton man fell at about 7:40 a.m. while climbing down a ladder. He was removed about an hour later and taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

He was released from the hospital by 4 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

Units from the Poulsbo Fire Department, Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue and Navy Region Northwest Bangor extricated the man. Paramedics put him onto a backboard basket, then he was lifted out of the opening.

Paramedics planned to transport the patient by helicopter, but because of heavy fog he was taken by ambulance to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton.

The bridge remained open to vehicular traffic, but a navy submarine's passage was delayed.

Since the bridge reopened in June with a new east half, more than 100 employees have been working on a $20 million contract to upgrade electrical and mechanical systems.