Travelers will detour via Riverside Bridge

HOQUIAM –Daytime travelers who use the 97-year-old US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge between Aberdeen and Hoquiam will want to plan additional travel time.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Washington State Department of Transportation bridge crews will close the Simpson Avenue Bridge to all traffic.

Workdays are:

• Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15 for inspections.

• Monday, May 19 through Thursday, May 22 for repairs.

During each closure, the US 101 Riverside Bridge will be reconfigured to accommodate two-way travel. Travelers can expect congestion while the detour is in place.

About the work
Crews are returning to complete repairs on the span. A previous routine inspection discovered cracks in the aging steel beams underneath the driving surface of the bridge. The work includes welding cracks and reinforcing the beams with steel plates.

The work requires daylight hours so crews can see in tight spaces beneath the bridge. Work is being performed when traffic volumes are lower to help minimize disruptions to travelers.