Drivers between Enumclaw and Buckley can breathe a sigh of relief as the State Route 410 White River Bridge officially reopened on Friday, Oct. 17, after a closure that began on Aug. 18 due to damage from an over-height vehicle collision. According to WSDOT, barriers were removed around 10:30 a.m., allowing the roughly 22,000 vehicles that traverse the span daily to resume normal travel across the bridge.
The bridge's reopening comes as a result of around-the-clock efforts that led to a completion two weeks ahead of the anticipated schedule, after emergency repairs were necessitated by the significant structural damage, the damaged beams required replacement and the bridge was shored up with temporary braces before permanent repairs could spearhead the restoration efforts, contractor crews labored diligently to replace several vertical trusses along with overhead beams. This information was confirmed when WSDOT maintenance workers positioned the last of five temporary braces on Sept. 8, and then contractor crews initiated the main repair work on Sept. 13.
In light of the incident, extra safety measures have been implemented by WSDOT as they installed additional warning signs on and before the bridge to alert drivers about its height restrictions. Improved signage aims to deter future damage arising from similar incidents. Travelers looking for real-time updates on road conditions can rely on the resources provided by WSDOT, such as their mobile app, the Travel Center Map, or signing up for WSDOT email alerts.
Moreover, the economic fallout from the bridge's closure has been acknowledged with remedial measures, as local businesses affected by the interruption now have access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), thanks to the U.S. Small Business Administration's response to Gov. Bob Ferguson's formal request, such loans are intended to help sustain small businesses and nonprofits until they can resume regular operations and this declaration covers a sweep of counties including King, Pierce, and others, businesses interested in applying can do so through the MySBA Loan Portal and for further aid by contacting the SBA disaster assistance customer service center.
Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation on Aug. 27 that expedited federal funding for the bridge repairs. This declaration was crucial in providing financial relief not only to the state funds but also in enabling accessibility to Economic Injury Disaster Loans for the businesses impacted by the bridge closure.
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