Date:  Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Contact: Claudia Bingham Baker , WSDOT communications, 360-357-2789 (Tumwater)

HOQUIAM – The US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge has reopened to two lanes of traffic following a short closure while crews repaired damage caused by impact with a vehicle.

The incident began about 7:30 a.m. today when the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office alerted WSDOT maintenance crews about impact damage to a structural beam on the bridge’s portal. Crews immediately closed one lane of the bridge, assessed damage and contacted WSDOT bridge engineers. The engineers arrived promptly on scene and determined that a damaged portion of beam needed to be removed and a new structural beam needed to be installed.

Over the next 11 hours, maintenance and bridge crews worked in unison to set up a detour using the Riverside Bridge, close both lanes of the Simpson Avenue Bridge, remove the damaged beam, install a new beam and disassemble the detour route. The bridge reopened to traffic at about 6:30 p.m.

Construction crews are also working on the bridge in a separate effort to reinforce piers. That work is unrelated to, and unaffected by, today’s repairs.

To learn more about WSDOT maintenance or construction activities that could affect traffic, please visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/Olympic/Construction/.

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