LONGVIEW — The Lewis and Clark Bridge that connects Longview and Rainier, Ore., reopened Thursday morning after emergency overnight repairs were completed, allowing traffic to flow smoothly again.
The Washington State Department of Transportation announced the reopening of the Lewis and Clark Bridge to all traffic on Twitter just before 6 a.m., but reported more scheduled work would occur overnight.
WSDOT announced at 6 p.m. Wednesday the bridge was closed for 24 to 48 hours because maintenance crews discovered a “fractured floor beam” in the afternoon while performing preliminary work for a finger joint replacement project coming later in the summer.
In a Thursday press release, the Department of Transportation reported the emergency work was complete, as crews “used 24 four-inch-long bolts to attach six steel plates to stabilize the damaged floor beam.”
WSDOT spokeswoman Celeste Dimichina said the floor beam damage was related to the aging finger joints at the ends of the bridge. Making the joint repairs is expected to close the bridge for up to six days in the summer, but dates for the project have not been finalized, according to WSDOT.
Dimcihina said crews and contractors will evaluate whether further beam repairs need to be done as part of the finger joint replacement.
A scheduled single-lane closure as part of the joint replacement project ran from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, and another single-lane closure was scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday.
Authorities stopped traffic in both directions Wednesday, only allowing emergency crews, emergency vehicles and law enforcement access to the bridge during its roughly 12-hour closure.
The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that the ferry located in Cathlamet was “running continuously” for travelers due to the Lewis and Clark Bridge’s closure.
Drivers were advised to take alternative routes, like the Astoria-Megler Bridge that connects Astoria and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, or the Interstate 5 freeway to gain entry to the region. The Lewis and Clark bridge remained open for pedestrians.
The Rainier School District reported Thursday morning classes would start two hours late out of precaution to deal with possible delays.
