Date:  Friday, December 17, 2010

Contact: Dustin Terpening, Communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
Chris Damitio, Project Engineer, 360-788-7403 (Bellingham)

GLACIER – Through all the wind and the rain and the snow, crews hustled to open a longer, taller bridge along Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) in Glacier approximately six months ahead of schedule.

The new Gallup Creek bridge opened to drivers Thursday evening, Dec. 16, after crews pounced on a break in the weather and finished paving the approaches to the bridge.

The early completion is a welcomed gift this holiday season to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintenance crews, who, for the first time in many years, didn’t have to fight flooding at Gallup Creek during the recent rainstorm.

“I tell you what, it sure was nice knowing we didn’t have to worry about the new bridge during the heavy rains and flooding,” said WSDOT maintenance supervisor Theo Donk. “The old bridge was a chronic problem that we had to keep a close eye on. It’s one less problem we have to worry about now.”

While the new bridge is open, some work still remains. Drivers can expect narrow lanes and a 30 mph speed limit through January while crews finish the concrete guardrail along the bridge.

Pictures of the bridge construction are available on WSDOT’s Flickr page.

The project was funded with $12 million from the 2005 gas tax package. WSDOT hired contractor Scarsella Brothers, Inc. of Kent, to build the bridge.

Built in 1955, the original bridge was a chokepoint for Gallup Creek that routinely caused the creek to flood across the roadway, posing a risk to the highway, drivers and maintenance crews.

The new bridge is taller and longer, making it better for drivers and the environment. It will help improve stream quality and fish habitat. For more details about the project, visit the project website.

< Go Back