A project to build a new bridge over the South Fork of the Chehalis River on state Route 6 will begin on Tuesday.
The bridge will be constructed 20 feet to the north of the existing bridge, which will remain open until the new spans scheduled finish in late fall of 2009, according to a press release from the state Department of Transportation.
The bridge is located at the north edge of the Boistfort Valley near the intersection of the South Fork and the main stem of the river.
This is a project that many local citizens have been waiting to see happen for years. We are excited to see this work get started, said Chehalis Area Engineer Colin Newell.
The existing bridge was built in 1925, and WSDOT officials are concerned that its 20-foot width isnt enough to handle large vehicles, and rear-end collisions are a problem there. The new bridge is designed to be 40 feet wide.
For more information about the SR 6 South Fork Chehalis River Bridge Replacement project, contacts are available at WSDOTs Chehalis Area Engineering Office by phone (866) 713-2412, by e-mail at swChehalis@wsdot.wa.gov or at the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR6/ChehalisRiverBridge.
The project is expected to cost $7.8 million and is funded through the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account.
