WSDOT reopens one lane of Beebe Bridge

Washington State Department of Transportation reopened one lane on U.S. Highway 97 on Beebe Bridge Monday, Sept. 28, reconnecting commuters in Chelan and Douglas counties.

WSDOT construction crews have been working around the clock to repair the damage done on Aug. 31, when a semi-truck damaged several steel trusses in an accident that killed both the driver and the passenger as the cab went over the bridge and into the Columbia River.

"We've got a great crew working out here 24/7," said Joseph Macaulay, transportation engineer for WSDOT. "We've been truckin' right along and people have really worked hard to get the bridge safely repaired."

A pilot car started leading traffic across the bridge Monday at 5 a.m. making the commute shorter. For the past four weeks, drivers have been forced to use alternate routes to the south through Wenatchee or north through Bridgeport, adding up to 70 miles for some drivers.

"I work for a moving company and my jobs have all but disappeared the past month because of the accident," said Marco Diaz of Bridgeport. "Today is the first time I've worked in two weeks because the bridge reopened. This bridge is a lot more important to people than we all thought a month ago, that's for sure."

Pedestrians have been allowed limited access to cross the bridge since Sept. 8.

"I'm going to miss all the school kids crossing each morning," said traffic controller Ryan Ballenger of Wenatchee. "For the most part folks who cross the bridge have been in great moods and they've been having fun reconnecting with their neighbors. It's been a real interesting time."

Crews spent the past week installing special jacks that allowed heavier repair equipment onto the bridge which have removed and replaced the bent and broken trusses and beams. The sound of cranes and jackhammers could be heard Monday morning as the pilot vehicle led drivers back and forth across the bridge.

"I am amazed that the bridge was repaired so fast," said Terry Michaels of Brewster. "I have to travel for my job and the drive was killing me. I trust everyone who has worked on this bridge was doing their job and that they've made it safe again. You got to give them credit for doing it safely and quickly."

Macaulay predicted that both lanes would be repaired and accessible to drivers in the next few weeks.

"I would say that we should be open both ways by mid-October," he said. "Right now we just need to finish installing the railings and fixing the sidewalks but all the damage done to the structure has been repaired and the bridge and the public are totally safe."