HOQUIAM – Grays Harbor County travelers who use the State Route 109 Grass Creek Bridge between Hoquiam and Ocean Shores will want to plan extra time into their commute. 

 Starting Dec. 1, Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews from Rognlin’s, Inc. will begin repairs on the bridge. The work requires an around-the-clock closure to all travelers for up to 10 weeks. 

 During the repairs, travelers will follow a signed 13-mile detour using US 101, Ocean Beach Road and Powell Road. During a typical day, the detour will add up to five minutes of travel time. During weekends and holidays, travelers going to and from the coast are encouraged to add lots of travel time to help prevent delays. 

 Local access will be available on either side of the bridge closure points. 

 WSDOT recognizes there is no good time to close a bridge. The closure and subsequent repairs will help keep the bridge in good working order.

Why this is needed 
During an in-depth inspection of the structure, WSDOT bridge inspectors found advanced deterioration of timber pilings under the southbound lane. The bridge has been reduced to one-lane of alternating traffic with a 25 mph speed limit since May. 

During the closure, crews will install new pilings and support beams. Once finished, the bridge’s weight capacity and use of the southbound lane will be restored. The speed limit will also return to 50 mph over the bridge.

The investigation is just beginning, says the Grays Harbor County Sheriffs Department this afternoon, and have released a few details regarding an investigation into the death of a Westport man. 

On October 24th at approximately 3:35 P.M. the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a death investigation at the Hammond RV Park in Westport, Washington.

 When deputies arrived to investigate, they found the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim to be suspicious. 

The victim is a 35-year-old Westport male. 
Deputies requested the assistance from Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office Detectives.

 Detectives arrived and contacted witnesses, as well as the suspect and served a search warrant at the residence. 

Detectives learned the victim and his 58-year-old father had been in a physical altercation prior to his death. 

There was evidence of a physical assault, and the 58-year-old Westport male suspect was placed under arrest for Murder in the 2nd degree. 

Detectives remained throughout the night processing the crime scene. The investigation is in its early stages and more details will be released when they are available.
    

The Washington State Patrol says that a 76-year-old Aberdeen man (name withheld pending next of kin notification) was killed in a motorcycle verses dump truck collision near Westport Tuesday afternoon.  

The collision occurred on State Route 105 at south Montesano Street (Westport Y) at 3:07 PM on October 11th, 2022. 
 
The 76-year-old was riding on a 2003 Harley-Davidson traveling south on State Route 105 the same direction as a 2007 Kenworth Dump truck driven by a 37-year-old Union Washington man.  

The Kenworth dump truck slowed down to make a right hand turn says the Washington State Patrol report, this is when the motorcyclist sped up to attempt to pass the dump truck on the right shoulder colliding with the dump truck.  

According to GHScanner radio traffic, CPR was initiated on scene by bystanders on the motorcyclist following the collision and then taken over by EMS responders.