Beth Bousley, communications, 509-324-6015

Bridge damaged by oversized vehicle; work begins next week

RITZVILLE – People who use the Danekas Road over Interstate 90 in Ritzville will need to plan an alternate route.

Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, October 1, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close Danekas Road and reroute traffic to repair damage from an oversized load that struck the overpass last July.  Crews will demolish and replace the damaged span, reinstall the railing, and pave the bridge surface.

36-hour closures of I-90 begin next week

Two 36-hour closures of I-90 below the bridge are scheduled to complete the demolition and place the new girders. People who use the interstate will need to follow signed detours via the Tokio interchange off and on-ramps during the following closure hours:

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18.

There will be no lane restrictions or closures during football game weekends at Washington State University.

Vehicle weight restrictions

Drivers of heavy or over-width vehicles will need to follow the signed detour route until repairs are complete.

• No over legal axle weight loads, including farm machinery.
• No vehicles over 105,500 pounds,
• No single axles over 20,000 pounds.
• No tandem axles over 34,000 pounds.

Oversized load damage costs

The $531,000 repair work is scheduled to be complete and weight restrictions lifted by Wednesday, Nov. 7. WSDOT is seeking to recover the cost of repairs from the responsible party.

By law, vehicle operators are responsible for knowing their vehicle height as well as bridge heights along their route. WSDOT’s online Bridge Vertical Clearance Trip Planner tool provides a way to map a route for over height vehicles.