Highway 99 open across Salmon Creek

Engineer Brian Burnham celebrates the reopening of Klineline Bridge with some fruits and vegetables after it was closed last December when a rain-swollen Salmon Creek eroded the footings of the old span. (The Columbian/Zachary Kaufman)

Flagman Rudy Williams removes caution signs before Klineline Bridge reopens after it was closed last December when a rain-swollen Salmon Creek eroded the footings of the old span. (The Columbian/Zachary Kaufman)

Highway 99 over Salmon Creek reopened at 4:50 p.m. today, just in time for late-afternoon commuters.

Clark County officials announced today they would be able to reopen the bridge a little more than a week ahead of the construction schedule.

This major north-south route in the urban heart of the county had been closed since the old bridge was judged unsafe for use in December.

The bridge replaces a structure originally built in 1927. The new span has four travel lanes, a center median, bicycle lanes, curb/gutter, sidewalks and two pedestrian overlooks with views of Salmon Creek. This new structure is wider, longer and much safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists, county project manager Linda Small said.

The county improved 650 feet of stream channel under the bridge, widening the channel by about 10 feet. They also placed boulders across the creek, creating a series of pools that should allow easier passage for salmon.

The project also made major road improvements on Highway 99 between Northeast 117th and Northeast 122nd avenues, including medians planted with trees and shrubs, according to Small. The total project cost $15.6 million.

“We designed the bridge and road approaches to add visual appeal to this segment of Highway 99 and support the efforts of Team 99 and community revitalization along the corridor,” she said.

Getting this new bridge in place quickly was a major county and community objective. Public Works used an alternate bid process encouraging bidders to not only submit the lowest total cost, but also the shortest possible construction schedule.

Ostrander Rock and Construction of Longview won the construction contract with a bid that included completing the bridge within 160 days from start to finish. Work started in April and is now substantially complete — a week earlier than the contract deadline. Cascade Bridge of Vancouver worked with Ostrander to build the bridge structure.

“They have delivered a very complex construction project with high quality at amazing speed,” Small said.

Small also thanked business owners and nearby residents for their patience during the project, noting that a Klineline Outreach Advisory Group provided a sounding board.

“We know this project had impacts on businesses in the vicinity. The outreach group has done a commendable job of helping us share information with the community, and representing business concerns related to the closure,” Small said. “We thank all of those involved in this project for their help, and especially their patience along the way.”

Clark County commissioners will host a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. next Friday, Sept. 26. This will be followed by a reception located in the Salmon Creek United Methodist Church parking lot north of the bridge on Highway 99. Residents and businesses are invited to attend.

Finishing work will continue at the bridge for several more weeks. There still may be periodic lane closures to protect workers, but the bridge will remain open to two-way traffic at all times, according to the county.

To view a photo history of the bridge construction from April through September, visit the project Web site at www.clark.wa.gov/klineline. The photo gallery includes high-resolution, downloadable photos.