State Senator: WSDOT should have seen bridge collapse coming

One state senator says the Washington State Department of Transportation doesn’t need more money to keep our bridges from collapsing, they just need to start paying attention.

State Senator Michael Baumgartner says the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River that collapsed last week had been hit by oversized vehicles 20 times in the past year, yet WSDOT issued an over-height permit to the truck that caused the accident.

“I don’t believe that this truck should ever have been on this bridge,” says Baumgartner.

On May 23, an oversized semi hit an overhead beam on the bridge, causing the 58-year-old structure to fall into the Skagit River below. Two vehicles with three people fell into the water as well, although all of the victims have recovered.

Now, as some lawmakers are saying we need to allocate more money to bridge repairs and upgrades, Baumgartner has submitted a bill that would keep WSDOT from allowing vehicles that are too big to use our state bridges.

“This bridge collapse has nothing to do with gas taxes. It’s just common sense that DOT shouldn’t be issuing permits for trucks that are bigger than the bridges that they cross,” says Baumgartner.

Senate Bill 5944 would also require warning signs on any bridge or overpass with a clearance of less than 16 feet. If passed into law, it would take effect immediately.

“Whether it is wasting $100 million on floating bridge pontoons that don’t float or doing nothing after several trucks repeatedly hit the same bridge. It’s clear the DOT has a bridge management problem and the agency obviously needs more oversight,” says Baumgartner.