Gov. Ferguson declares emergency over White River Bridge closure
The closure of the White River Bridge following a crash last week has been declared an emergency, according to a proclamation by Gov. Bob Ferguson.
The White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw on state Route 410 was severely damaged after a semi-truck struck the structure on Aug. 18.
There is damage across all seven bridge panels, including on the horizontal and vertical structure, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Due to the damage, the bridge remains closed to all vehicle traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists.
“WSDOT teams were on the bridge immediately after the collision, conducting inspections and taking measurements for temporary repairs. WSDOT has already started fabricating pieces and securing other materials for the repairs,” according to a news release from Ferguson’s website.
Ferguson’s proclamation will allow the state to seek federal funds to reimburse bridge work that is underway. It is estimated that the cost for repair will exceed $2 million.
“The White River Bridge is a critical lifeline to these communities, and we are doing all we can to get it reopened as quickly as possible,” Ferguson said in the release. “The work is happening right now, and this declaration will ensure we can seek federal reimbursement to protect state dollars.”
