Governor Bob Ferguson is updating drivers on what to expect as the Washington State Department of Transportation plans to replace part of an overpass on westbound Interstate 90, a process likely to take several months.
Westbound I-90 re-opened ahead of schedule on Friday, after an over-height load damaged an overpass at Bullfrog Road near Cle Elum the night of Tuesday, Oct. 21st. Contractor crews hired by the Washington State Department of Transportation worked nonstop over a 22-hour period under an emergency contract to remove the damaged portion of the overpass and reopen westbound I-90.
Westbound lanes will remain open until the department replaces the overpass, which will require full closures of westbound I-90 on a limited basis. That is expected to occur primarily at night, with daytime closures only as needed. An updated timeline is expected in December.
Approximately 17,000 vehicles travel that section of I-90 daily, with about 1,500 crossing the overpass each day. This is the fourth time since August that the Washington State Department of Transportation has had to close a bridge or overpass while repairs are made due to an oversized vehicle strike.
