Major Pierce County bridge closed since August will reopen ahead of schedule
The White River Bridge that shut down after a crash caused significant damage to the structure will reopen Friday, two weeks ahead of schedule.
The bridge, which sits on state Route 410 between Buckley and Enumclaw, was closed Aug. 18 after a semi-truck damaged the structure. No injuries were reported.
The damage hit all seven bridge panels, including on the horizontal and vertical structure. The bridge was closed to all vehicle traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists.
It was estimated the cost for repairs would be about $4.5 million, The News Tribune reported. Governor Bob Ferguson declared an emergency in order to seek federal funds to help with the cost.
The impacts of the bridge closure devastated Pierce County businesses in the area, according to a News Tribune story.
“We made a commitment to reopen this bridge as quickly as possible,” Ferguson said in a news release. “Thanks to the hard work of our crews, engineers and contractors seven days a week we’re opening weeks ahead of schedule. People just want government to work. Together we can move fast and solve big problems.”
Crews reportedly worked seven days a week in order to get the bridge fixed, according to the Washington state Department of Transportation.
