Expect delays next three Saturdays on White River Bridge

Drivers in Enumclaw and Buckley should be prepared for some delays for the next three Saturday mornings as Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance staff continue to inspect the State Route 410 White River Bridge.

May 1, 2015 5:56 pm

Note: The following was released Friday afternoon by the state Department of Transportation.

Drivers in Enumclaw and Buckley should be prepared for some delays for the next three Saturday mornings as Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance staff continue to inspect the State Route 410 White River Bridge.

A single lane across the bridge will be closed from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2, 9 and 16. Flaggers will direct traffic through the open lane during the work hours. After those three inspections, further inspections will take place every two months.

During a routine inspection on April 4, damage was discovered to a metal beam on the overhead support structure of the bridge. The damage is believed to have been caused by an oversized load striking the bridge. WSDOT immediately closed the bridge to traffic as contractor crews made repairs by constructing a temporary support structure. The bridge reopened to traffic on Saturday, April 11. A permanent repair, estimated to cost about $1.5 million, is scheduled to begin later this year.

An inspection on April 26 found that the temporary repairs were functioning correctly and the bridge continued to be safe for drivers. These subsequent inspections will be to continue to monitor the temporary repair work until a permanent fix is completed.