Date:  Monday, September 21, 2009

Contact: Jeff Adamson, North Central Region Communications Manager, Wenatchee, (509) 667-2815, (509) 669-8778 Cell. E-mail: adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

WENATCHEE – WSDOT hopes to be able to allow limited traffic over the US 97 Beebe Bridge by the end of the month - perhaps as early as next Monday, Sept. 28. Project Engineer Brantley Bain said, “We’ll know more by the middle of the week when the critical repairs, now underway, are in place.”

The bridge over the Columbia River at Chelan Falls was closed by a truck collision on August 31. Since then, vehicles haven’t been allowed on the sagging bridge deck. Only limited daily pedestrian crossings have been allowed since Sept. 8.

The damage to the bridge is extensive, requiring fabrication of not only replacement trusses, beams and plates, but also of unique tools to accomplish the repairs. “We can’t restore the bridge to its original geometry due to the stress, compression and stretching to the entire structure that the accident caused. Replacement pieces had to be designed and fabricated from scratch. The collision knocked members up to 14” out of whack and we can only restore it to within a few inches of the original specs,” said Bain.

If crews are successful with the work to install special “jacks”, over the next few days, heavier repair equipment can be placed on the bridge allowing work to be accomplished that will strengthen and stabilize the structure to allow single lane, piloted traffic. The jacks have been designed to absorb the weight that is now being supported by the damaged bridge members. Once the “jacks” are in place, the work to remove and replace the bent and broken trusses and beams can begin. Specialty steel manufacturers have been working around the clock for the past two weeks, building parts as quickly as bridge engineers have been able to determine the design specifications.

“We’ve heard complaints from people who aren’t seeing crews working on the bridge 24/7,” said Bain, “But that has now changed as the work is shifting from drawing boards and fabrication plants to the bridge.” “As we enter this critical phase of the work,” said Bain, “We’re going to do our best to keep to the pedestrian crossing hours that have been in place, but some unscheduled closures may become necessary.”

Pictures of the collision, structure damage and repair work can be seen on the WSDOT Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157622081917117/

The US 97 “Columbia River Bridge at Beebe” averages nearly 5,000 vehicles per day.

Traffic continues to be detoured onto US 97A through Chelan and along the west side of the Columbia River to Wenatchee. The detour doubles the amount of traffic on this route and adds about 10 minutes to a commute between Chelan and Wenatchee. However, it adds up to two hours to Chelan commuters from upper Douglas County. Signs directing drivers around the closure are in place. Information is also available on the North Wenatchee Highway Advisory Radio (HAR - 1610 AM), by calling 5-1-1 and on the WSDOT traffic and roads web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx?refnum=206546&action=2

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