Truckers claim state is playing favorites with bridge traffic

Truckers in Aberdeen, Wash. claim the state is playing
favorites, allowing one contractor working on the 520
bridge replacement to travel rickety bridges that are off
limits to local heavy haulers.

The two main routes in and out of the city in Grays Harbor
County go across bridges that the state Department of
Transportation says are cracked. Both bridges now have
weight restrictions. The only detours are out-of-the way,
two-lane roads, which city councilmember Kathi Hoder says
are dangerous.

“All I’m asking is that the Legislature and WSDOT look at
this from both sides before somebody gets hurt on the
roadway,” said Hoder.

Heavy haul truckers who have permits to drive on state
highways say they are prevented from using the Wishkaw
Bridge and the Chehalis River Bridge.

“We understand that WSDOT has the right to take bridges
out of service or say they can’t take certain loads, but
if I can’t get large loads to the peninsula to do
commerce, we’re going broke,” said Hoder, who also owns
Hoquiam Licensing and Transportation.

The state has granted an exemption to the weight
restrictions for loads hauled by a contractor working on
the 520 bridge replacement. A spokesman for the WSDOT says
it’s considering more exemptions for other heavy haulers.

Hoder says the weight restrictions on the bridges
are not fair. She calls them another slap in the face to a
community suffering from failing industries and lost jobs.

“I’m not impatient, I’m just frustrated,” said
Hoder. “I mean if they tell us they’re going to do
something, we believe they’re going to do something for
us, so I’m going to take them at their word that
something’s going to come down the pike.”

Hoder says she understands budget constraints, but
she insists the entire peninsula is being ignored by the
state.