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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071326 email - RE_ US 101 _ Hoh River Bridge Emergency RepairsALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Good afternoon, During a recent inspection, the WSDOT Bridge Preservation Office (BPO) found cracks in a floor beam on the US 101 / Hoh River Bridge that has been repaired multiple times. This floor beam was intended to slide on a structure on the bridge called a truss chord, allowing the bridge to expand. It has been frozen for several years. The lack of movement changes the load path and causes the cracking. BPO also recently found corrosion in other steel members of the bridge. In an effort to keep the bridge open to travelers, WSDOT will restrict traffic to a single lane across the center of the bridge starting as early as Tuesday, July 14. Traffic will alternate using temporary signals installed at either end of the bridge. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph across the bridge. WSDOT is also initiating an emergency contract to make repairs to two of the floor beams, install a sliding bearing plate, replace the sliding plate joints, clean and paint the most critical components of the bridge, and replace rivets with bolts in the bottom chord. The estimated cost for the emergency contract is $2 million. Prior to the emergency contract, travelers will see alternating one lane traffic across the center of the bridge. During the repair work, the emergency contractor will likely need to close the bridge over a series of weekends. This information will become available once an emergency contractor is on board. Once the initial emergency repair is complete, the bridge will still be restricted to one-way alternating traffic using a single lane down the center of the bridge. This condition will remain until all other floor beams are replaced by another project. The estimated costs for this work is over $10 million, which will include painting the entire bridge. WSDOT is communicating to the general public via our usual social media channels, and directly to local governments and Tribes. Some background on the bridge is below. US 101 Hoh River Bridge History According to WSDOT records <https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/protecting-environment/historic-bridges> , the bridge is listed as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Its bridge sufficiency rating is listed as Functionally Obsolete (FO). * The bridge was built in 1931. * Although previously listed in fair condition, bridge is now being downgraded to poor condition. * The bridge was on a 2-year inspection cycle. The new findings will increase the frequency of inspections to either 6 months or annually. US 101 Hoh River Bridge specs * The entire bridge is 494.5 feet long * Truss portion is 392 feet long * The bridge is 20 feet wide. Please let me know if you would like a briefing. Regards, Troy Troy Cowan, PE Region Administrator WSDOT Olympic Region 7407 31st Ave NE Lacey, WA 98516 (360) 357-2658 Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW.