Hit and run truck breaks beam on Elochoman bridge

Washington Department of Transportation crews are working to repair the Elochoman River bridge on SR4, which was damaged in a hit and run late June. A beam on the east end of the bridge was severed in the impact.

Whoever hit the bridge had to have known he hit something, said Jerry Barsness, Region Wide Supervisor for WSDOT. “He got a jolt that probably knocked him right out of his seat.”

The legal limit for bridge clearance is 14 feet 6 inches, Barsness said. “Everything we have is either over that or it is posted.” The clearance on the Elochoman River bridge is 15 feet 5 inches.

Crews will replace the severed beams and a beam that was severely bent in the impact. “We started fabricating the parts within a few days after we knew it was hit,” he said.

The beams have been in the building process at the fabrication shop in Vancouver for the past two weeks. “That will expedite the repair process so that we have less impact on the traveler.”

The damage to the bridge was discovered when a DOT employee based in Cathlamet was on his way to work the morning of June 26. When he saw the damage, he immediately called the bridge department in Vancouver. “I would suspect we knew within less than 12 hours it had been hit,” he said.

Once the DOT was sure the bridge wouldn’t collapse, plans could be made for the repairs. Most of the materials are specialty items. It needs to be special ordered, shipped and prepared for installation.

Barsness said he can’t believe someone would hit the bridge and not know. “Then to continue on without stopping is completely irresponsible.” Because of the hit and run, taxpayers will be footing the bill for repairs.

Barsness estimates the total cost to be around $60,000 to $70,000. That includes material, labor and specialized equipment for this type of job. “It’s a significant amount of money.”

The project is not weather sensitive and Barsness said he expects the work to be completed by sometime next week.