Drivers who use eastbound State Route 18 near Auburn should be prepared for three overnight closures of the Green River (Neeley) Bridge beginning tonight, Sept. 8. Overnight closures will also take place Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 10.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close the eastbound span nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. while they adjust the bridge painting containment system. The Southeast Auburn-Black Diamond Road on-ramp to eastbound SR 18 will also close nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closures are weather dependent.

Drivers should use alternate routes and plan additional travel time to get around the bridge during the closures.

The containment system protects drivers and the Green River from the work which includes sandblasting off old paint, repairing steel and priming the bridge.

Project information

The paint on the 56-year-old steel truss bridge is peeling and flaking, resulting in rust and corrosion. The new paint will help protect the bridge for another 20 years. The $2.2 million project is scheduled to be complete this fall.

It is one of four bridge preservation projects in King and Snohomish counties this year.