White River Bridge repair work starts Saturday

Permanent repair work gets underway Saturday on the State Route 410 White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said.

WSDOT selected Guy F. Atkinson Construction to lead the work.

The bridge has been shut down since August 18, when it was struck by a semi-truck and severely damaged.

Under an emergency directive from Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, the work will continue seven days a week until it is finished. Repairs are expected to take six to eight weeks, with the bridge reopening sometime between October 31 and November 14.

White River Bridge repairs begin ahead of schedule

“Thanks to the hard work of our WSDOT crews, we’re beginning permanent repairs ahead of schedule,” Ferguson said. “We understand the significant impacts this closure has on our communities. That’s why we’re requiring our contractor to work seven days a week until this critical lifeline is restored.”

Crews installed temporary braces. That work was completed ahead of schedule, allowing the contractor to get started on Saturday. Workers will replace damaged steel, heat-straighten bent components, and repaint affected areas. The bridge will remain fully closed during construction.

“Our crews are great at what they do, if I’m being honest,” WSDOT Northwest Region Communications Manager RB McKeon told KIRO Newsradio Friday. “They were ahead of schedule, and so that means the contractor can start a little bit early.”

The steel truss bridge carries more than 22,000 vehicles a day and was built in 1949.

The closure has forced drivers onto a signed detour via State Route 164, State Route 18, and State Route 167, which can add up to an hour to travel times during peak periods.

WSDOT continues to coordinate with local governments, emergency services, and school districts to manage detours.

Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.

Follow @FrankLenziKIRO