Pierce County officials announced Thursday the Milroy Bridge over the Puyallup River at 66th Avenue East and River Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Weds., April 15, to allow crews to perform a detailed structural inspection and general maintenance. Motorists should use an alternative route during the closure.

Crews from Pierce County Public Works and Utilities and the Washington State Department of Transportation will inspect the condition of the bridge’s structural components, perform routine maintenance, and assess the structure for future maintenance needs. Some of the structural components can be accessed only with special equipment, such as an under-bridge inspection truck, which necessitates closing the roadway.

Pierce County road crews will make surface repairs to the concrete bridge deck, as well as fix any damage to guardrails and sidewalks. This work is performed every other year as part of Pierce County’s bridge inspection program that ensures the safety of the traveling public and the longevity of the county’s transportation infrastructure (see “Pierce County’s Milroy Bridge to close April 17 for inspection,” Tacoma Daily Index, April 12, 2013).

The Milroy Bridge is a steel truss bridge that connects state Route 167 (River Road East) and North Levee Road East at 66th Avenue East. The bridge was built in 1931 and carries approximately 10,500 vehicles a day. Last year, Pierce County implemented weight restrictions on the bridge (see “Pierce County Council OKs weight restrictions for Milroy Bridge,” Tacoma Daily Index, May 7, 2014).