Gov. Inslee Declares Emergency Due to Damaged State Route 506 Bridge 

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Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday declared an emergency in Lewis County due to damage that occurred on Sept. 22 to the state Route 506 bridge over Interstate 5 when it was struck by an oversized logging truck. 

The damage requires the replacement of one span of the structure, which was already under construction after being hit by a previous oversized load. The estimated cost to repair the damage is $1 million, according to the governor’s office. 

“This order will cause the plans and procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to be implemented,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. “State agencies and departments are also directed to utilize state resources and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the incident.”

As of Wednesday, southbound Interstate 5 was set to be closed at Exit 60 near Toledo from 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, to 6 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, as crews continue work to replace the damaged southbound section of the state Route 506/Toledo-Vader Road overpass.



Specifically, contracted crews with SB Structures LLC were expected to work overnight to install new bridge girders over the southbound lanes of I-5, according to the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

“Each bridge girder weighs approximately 120,000 pounds and is critical for supporting the deck of the new structure,” WSDOT Project Engineer Paul Mason stated in a news release.

“To ensure everyone’s safety during demolition and bridge girder setting, all lanes of southbound I-5 will close overnight at the overpass.”