Date:  Saturday, November 15, 2008

Contact: WSDOT On-call pager 206.437.6314 (Media only)

BLACK DIAMOND – WSDOT bridge experts have determined the SR 169 Kummer Bridge over the Green River is safe for traffic. The bridge will reopen to all traffic at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. There has been no significant movement in the soil supporting the bridge or the bridge pier since Nov. 11.

"The geotechnical experts confirm there has been no movement. They have also successfully set up a continuous feed of data between the bridge and headquarters. The data feed will allow them to track any movement in either the tilt meters or the inclinometers," said Russ East, Assistant Regional Administrator for Snohomish and King Counties.

WSDOT will continue to monitor the data and will close the bridge if there is any significant change in the data.

WSDOT engineers and Washington State Patrol closed the Kummer Bridge near Black Diamond at 3:19 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 after geotechnical experts detected small movements in the soil holding up the bridge.

WSP troopers and WSDOT maintenance workers are at both ends of the bridge directing traffic to the short detour route.

For more information on the long term repair plans for this bridge, go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr169/greenriverrepair/

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