Project overview
This project repaired and upgraded two machine rooms that house equipment that operates the US 101 Hoquiam River Riverside Bridge in Grays Harbor County.
Work included repairs to the existing machine rooms, removing and replacing the old machine room walls and roof, and painting the operating room. To do this important preservation work, a large crane lifted materials, including new walls and a roofing system, to the machine rooms on top of the bridge.
What to expect
During construction, the bridge closed nightly for up to eight nights. During the overnight work, travelers followed a signed detour around the construction zone via local streets and the Simpson Avenue Bridge.
During the daytime, travelers encountered intermittent lane and shoulder closures to allow crews to hoist up materials to the machine rooms above the roadway.
The US 101 Hoquiam River Bridge is the northbound bridge on Riverside Avenue. Travelers detoured via the normally southbound Simpson Avenue Bridge during the overnight closures.
Since fall of 2019, the machine rooms which support the operations of the movable bridge have experienced ceiling leaks and compromised electrical equipment due to heavy rainfall and aging gear. Due to aging rooms and use, the machine and operation room walls were unstable and posed safety concerns for bridge crews during routine inspections and bridge openings.
The US 101 Hoquiam River Riverside Bridge is one of five movable bridges in Grays Harbor County in need of repairs. We have developed a comprehensive plan to strategically address bridge maintenance and ongoing preservation needs over the next several years.
