Expect delays on U.S. 2 near Gold Bar
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, September 6, 2011
GOLD BAR — A bridge that was damaged by a truck a couple of years ago is finally getting permanent repairs.
Next weekend, crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation are set to work at the Anderson Creek Bridge, located on U.S. 2 between Gold Bar and Index.
The $185,193.75 project consists of replacing one steel railing on the 92-foot bridge that was damaged in 2009.
Besides repairing it, two feet of the bridge will be repaved and the bridge deck reinforced to extend its life.
The project calls for single-lane closures for 19 consecutive days, which can cause delays to the estimated 6,400 vehicles traveling daily on that stretch of the road. The first closure is set for 8 p.m. Sunday.
Crews are scheduled to work on the project during daylight hours so it can be completed faster and affect drivers less, DOT’s spokeswoman Bronlea Mishler said.
“We are asking drivers to add 10 minutes to their trips,” Mishler said. “They need to be prepared for some congestion in the area.”
To regulate traffic flow, a temporary traffic light will be set up on both sides of the bridge. A flagger will regulate traffic flow on the weekends, Mishler said.
On Dec. 27, 2009, a trailer crashed in the area. Its cargo, a 56,000-pound concrete panel, slid off and damaged the bridge railing of the eastbound lane. The transportation department installed a steel guardrail as a temporary repair.
The repair project was awarded in April to Bellingham-based Razz Construction. It was decided to start the project in September so it does not affect summer travel.
“We still need good weather, but by doing it in September we miss Labor day weekend and the fair,” Mishler said. “We timed it to affect the drivers the least amount possible.”
The bridge was always safe for drivers. With the repairs, it will now meet federal standards, she said.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
Bridge closures
The Anderson Creek Bridge is scheduled to have one-lane closures for repairs. The closure starts at 8 p.m. Sunday and will last until noon, Sept. 30.
For more information on this project, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US2/AndersonCreek.
