POMEROY, WA – The second full closure of the Elmer C. Huntly Bridge, also known as the Central Ferry Bridge, on State Route 127 just north of Pomeroy is rescheduled for tomorrow. The construction project is expected to cost around $3.2 million and wrap up in early July.
“Due to weather, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation rescheduled the closure of the bridge to start at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19 to 1 a.m. Thursday, April 20. Due to unseasonably cooler temperatures, the contractor is needing to pour concrete during daylight hours when temperatures are warmer to allow for proper curing,” according to a WSDOT press release.
This is the second of four planned full closures of the bridge that will take place this spring and summer.
“Contractor crews started work to repair the 54-year-old bridge deck in February. During the week, drivers should plan for minor delays across the bridge from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Loads over 8-feet-wide are prohibited across the bridge for the length of the project, which is scheduled to be complete in early July,” officials say.
To plan for weekly impacts, use the real-time travel map on the WSDOT website or visit the project webpage.
The original bridge at Lyons Ferry was dedicated on March 21, 1924, and was later dropped into the Snake River when its replacement was constructed in 1968 after Little Goose Dam was completed and formed Lake Bryan.
The bridge is named for Elmer C. Huntley (June 1, 1915 – May 13, 1994) who was a state representative and senator from Whitman County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1957.
