If all goes according to plan, work that began Saturday will result in the reopening in mid-2009 of a bridge that’s a vital link between Black Diamond and Enumclaw.
The latest: A company that’s under contract with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to spend 30 days excavating a large section of road just south of Green River Bridge (also known as Kummer Bridge) on State Route 169, which has been closed since Nov. 18. About 1,500 truckloads of dirt and rock will be hauled away and replaced with lighter material that is more resistant to sliding, said DOT officials.
A hillside to the northeast “is slowly pushing the ground that supports the southern pier” of the bridge, causing the ground beneath the pier “to shift. We need to relieve that pressure to stop the slide,” said Russ East, an assistant regional administrator for DOT.
Saturday morning, crews began tearing up the asphalt and digging out an area that measures 25 feet deep, 200 feet long and 80 feet wide. The excavating is expected to continue in 20-hour workdays until Christmas. The full project is scheduled to be done in time for the bridge to reopen to traffic next June.
The bridge was closed after geotechnical engineers noticed potentially dangerous movement in the soil. While the trouble spot has been watched for years and some anti-slide work was done last summer, DOT declared an emergency in early November when heavy rain pummeled the area. Governor Chris Gregoire signed a disaster declaration Nov. 26, allowing the state to receive funding from the Federal Highway Administration for the approximately $15 million project.
“The work will be noisy,” said Messay Shiferaw, a DOT construction engineer.
The bridge closure also is forcing motorists who crossed the span regularly to use detours, which has created inconveniences for school buses carrying Black Diamond children to Enumclaw School District schools. Businesses also are affected if customers choose not to continue frequenting them.
“We really wish there were something more we could do to help folks. We just want to remind drivers that you can really help by visiting those local businesses,” East said.
