Date:  Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Contact: Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058
Joye Redfield-Wilder, Department of Ecology (509) 575-2610

GOLDENDALE - Work has ceased on the US 97 Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge Deck Replacement project, announced the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Construction will not resume until Washington State Labor and Industries concludes its routine investigation of the work zone accident that took place on Tuesday morning, January 15.

A large excavator belonging to and operated by Mowat Construction Company – a WSDOT contractor – fell into the Columbia River at the north end of the bridge. For further information, please contact Mowat Construction Company at 425-398-0205.

Mowat Construction Company is working in coordination with WSDOT and the Department of Ecology to begin the clean up of the site. Department of Ecology dispatched its spill responders unit and efforts to extract the fallen equipment have been initiated by the contractor.

The Biggs Bridge closed to all traffic on January 2, and will remain closed during the suspension of work.

For information regarding the US 97 Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge Deck Replacement project, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/US97/BiggsBridge/. 


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