I-5 Skagit River bridge reopens less than 4 weeks after collapse

[rsmith6621]

This would not have happened this quick under a Republican Governor.


http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Traffic-returns-to-I-5-bridge-that-collapsed-212133771.html

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - Cars and trucks are rolling again across the Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge, restoring the traffic flow on the main route between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

A temporary span opened Wednesday morning, replacing a section of the bridge that collapsed May 23 when it was struck by a truck with an oversize load.

Workers with the state Department of Transportation and contractors rushed work on the temporary span to relieve drivers who lined up to detour through Mount Vernon and Burlington. The bridge carries 71,000 vehicles a day.

Those vehicles are back on the freeway, but they'll be slowed at the bridge where the speed is reduced to 40 mph because of narrow lanes on the 160-foot temporary section. It carries two 11-foot lanes in each direction. Oversized and overweight loads will still be detoured.