SEATTLE — Governor Bob Ferguson today declared an emergency in King and Pierce counties as a result of the closure of the White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw. The bridge was severely damaged after being struck by a semi-truck on Aug. 18.
The Washington State Department of Transportation took immediate action, implementing emergency measures, closing the bridge and establishing a detour. WSDOT has been working to evaluate the damage and plan for temporary repairs as soon as possible. WSDOT teams were on the bridge immediately after the collision, conducting inspections and taking measurements for temporary repairs. WSDOT has already started fabricating pieces and securing other materials for the repairs.
The emergency proclamation allows the state to seek federal funds to reimburse the work currently underway to repair the bridge, and work into the future. The proclamation is available here.
“The White River Bridge is a critical lifeline to these communities, and we are doing all we can to get it reopened as quickly as possible,” Governor Ferguson said. “The work is happening right now, and this declaration will ensure we can seek federal reimbursement to protect state dollars.”
Work already underway
Structural damage extends the full length of the bridge and includes horizontal and vertical components. Engineers are currently reviewing the data collected and are running models to better understand the extent of the damage and determine repairs, reopening options and timelines.
WSDOT is meeting almost daily with local partners to provide updates, answer questions and coordinate on the response.