Twenty-one of Washington’s aging, obsolete or structurally deficient city and county bridges will soon be replaced or repaired. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Friday announced approval of $30 million for work on those city and county bridges — including approximately $2.9 million for maintenance of East Lincoln Avenue Bridge. This funding comes from the Federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, which is administered through WSDOT.
“While we await news of the potential federal stimulus package, these grants allow us to put people to work and to begin investing right now in critical infrastructure,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary, in a statement. “Bridges are vital transportation links to communities, jobs and the transport of goods and products. These funds help protect our state’s investment in local bridges and ensure these structures remain safe for use now and into the future.”
Cities and counties submitted a total of 42 project applications, with an estimate of $227 million for funding consideration. WSDOT reviewed the applications and presented a refined list to the Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee for consideration during a public meeting in Olympia in November. Committee members make recommendations to WSDOT for projects to be funded under the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program.
“Eligible bridges are ones that are at the end of their service life, or bridges that can be repaired to add years to their service life at a fraction of the cost of replacing,” explained Grant Griffin, WSDOT Local Agency Bridge Engineer. “Often bridges have aged to the point where maintenance is not keeping up with the rate of deterioration. Others may suffer from deficiencies, such as narrow width, that are inherent in their original design. Still others may be in danger of being washed out in the next flood.”
The Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee is a committee of bridge and engineering professionals, with three members each from Washington cities and counties.
For a complete list of the 21 bridges, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6D2AFE46-A3D1-4486-95C3-0500F2465743/0/2008CityCountyBridgeGrants.pdf
