The Washington State Department of Transportation temporarily closed the state Route 410 White River Bridge after crews discovered damage to the bridge’s overhead support structure during a routine inspection early Saturday morning.
The closing is expected to last for several days. The damage from an over-height vehicle may have happened within the last week to two weeks.
The SR 410 White River Bridge has an arched steel overhead support structure, which is signed for 15 feet. The bridge strike occurred in the westbound lanes of the bridge. Low clearance warning signs are posted along the shoulder approaching the bridge.
“WSDOT bridge inspection teams believe this bridge was damaged by an over-height load,” said Assistant Regional Administrator Dave McCormick. “To keep drivers safe, we’ve closed the bridge until emergency repairs have been completed.”
WSDOT has selected contractor PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. to do the repair work, which is estimated to cost $200,000 or more.
“WSDOT engineers are working to analyze data to determine the extent of the damage,” said McCormick. “The bridge could be closed for several days while contractor crews make repairs.”
Detour information
WSDOT has closed SR 410 to all but local traffic at 244th Avenue Southeast in Enumclaw and Park Avenue in Buckley. Drivers traveling between Enumclaw and Buckley can detour via SR 164, SR 18, SR 167 and SR 410. Local residents can call (253) 372-3933 for a recorded message about the bridge status.
The SR 410 White River Bridge is a steel truss bridge built in 1949. It was last inspected in April 20, 2013. Approximately 20,000 vehicles use this stretch of SR 410 daily.
WSDOT publishes minimum and maximum bridge heights for each direction of travel on the WSDOT Commercial Vehicle Services website and the state route bridge vertical clearance trip planner. The minimum and maximum measurements may fall inside or outside the traveling lanes, including shoulders. If an operator has an oversized load between the minimum and maximum measurements they are responsible for checking the vertical clearance prior to travel.
Hyperlinks within the news release:
- Commercial vehicle services website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/CommercialVehicle/
- State route bridge vertical clearance trip planner: www.wsdot.wa.gov/data/tools/bridgeclearance/
- Photos of the damage: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157651338300029/
Update:
During a WSDOT inspection of the White River Bridge today, April 4, a damaged sway bar was found that supports the bridge.
WSDOT officials closed state Route 410 in both directions. As of about noon there is no estimated time for a reopening of the highway. More information about the cause of the damage and when the highway will be reopened is expected this afternoon.
…..
State Route 410 at White River Bridge is blocked in both directions by state patrol troopers.
The WSDOT website sates there is an incident.
No other information available at this time.
From WSDOT site:
SR 410 Both Directions – On SR 410 eastbound & westbound at the White River Bridge (MP 22) there is an incident blocking all lanes.
Last Updated: 4/4/2015 10:28 AM
At milepost 22
