I-5 bridge over Skagit River poised to reopen later this week
Jun 17, 2013, 2:03 PM | Updated: 2:18 pm
I-5 will once again cross the Skagit River later this week, thanks to steady progress on a temporary span to replace the one that collapsed in May.
Crews worked through the weekend and are now in the process of finishing the framework and support panels and paving should take place in the next day, according to WSDOT spokesman Travis Phelps.
“Next step is we’re sending divers underwater to inspect the bridge piers and make sure there isn’t any additional damage we might have missed with the side-scanning sonar inspection we did earlier last week,” Phelps said.
Traffic has been detoured since May 23 when a truck with an oversize load struck the 58-year-old span, causing it to crumble. The bridge carried 71,000 vehicles a day.
WDOT also began taking bids Monday from companies interested in building a permanent replacement. They hope to announce that contract on Wednesday.
“That contract should allow us to install a permanent span sometime after the Labor Day weekend,” Phelps said.
