Many Of Washington’s Bridges ‘Deficient’ While Still Safe, 24 Percent Of Spans In The State Have Serious Problems

There are cracks in the pontoons under the Evergreen Point floating bridge across Lake Washington, half of the Hood Canal floating bridge is deteriorating rapidly and the 11th Street bridge over Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway is so rusty that engineers may have to restrict traffic on it.

Those are among the problems that have led transportation officials to classify nearly one-quarter of Washington state’s 7,477 bridges as “deficient.”

The problems are considered serious but do not pose a threat to public safety.

Left untreated, however, the situation could worsen to the point that the bridges would need to be replaced at a much higher cost than repairs, transportation officials believe.

“We try to live within our means and do the best we can. But there’s a definite need for improvement in our highways and a few key structures,” Myint Lwin, chief bridge engineer for the state Department of Transportation, said in an interview last week.

“We have an ongoing inspection program. If the bridge was not safe, it would not be open to traffic. But we do want motorists to be aware of the deficiencies and support some means of improvement.”

An Associated Press analysis of federal highway records found 182,730 of the nation’s 581,942 bridges, or 31.4 percent, were rated deficient as of June 30, 1996.

Under federal guidelines, deficient bridges either have structural problems, such as corrosion, or they have become functionally obsolete due to low clearance or narrow lanes.

In Washington state, the Federal Highway Administration’s 1997 report to Congress says 2,007 of the 7,477 bridges tracked by the government, or 27 percent, were deficient last year. State highway officials say that figure dropped to about 24 percent this year.

Bob George, chief engineer with the state Department of Transportation’s bridge preservation section, worries that Washington state is not prepared to deal with simultaneous deterioration of a large number of bridges constructed in the late 1950s. He predicts serious problems will be evident within 10 years.

In Washington state, all bridges are inspected at least once every two years, although those with the most serious problems are inspected more often. The state spends about $65 million a year on bridge inspections, repairs, construction, painting and seismic enhancements.

The top five bridges slated for repairs or replacement are:

A 3,000-foot bridge on state Highway 529 over the Snohomish River near Everett. Built in 1940, the movable bridge needs a total overhaul. Cost: $24.9 million.

A 1,170-foot bridge on U.S. Highway 2 over the Ebey Slough near Everett. The bridge, replaced in portions over the years, is operationally obsolete. Cost of a fourth phase to replace part of the bridge: $26 million.

The 12,404-foot Albert D. Rosellini Bridge, also known as the Evergreen Point floating bridge, crossing Lake Washington in Seattle. Built in 1963, the bridge on state Highway 520 needs strengthening and seismic improvements to remain operational for another 20 years or so. Cost: $15 million.

The 1,748-foot Tacoma City Waterway bridge. Engineers say practically every component of the bridge, built in 1911, is corroded. Local and state officials are studying the options. Cost: $20 million to replace or $4 million simply to tear it down.

The 5,478-foot Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River near Longview. Built in 1929, the bridge needs replacement of the deck, among other things. Repair cost: $17.3 million.

Even bigger projects loom.

State officials estimate it would cost $150 million to replace the east half of the floating bridge over Hood Canal. The west half was replaced in 1979 after that part sank. Now, the east half is beginning to crumble.

The state is studying a $360 million plan to relieve traffic congestion on the Tacoma Narrows bridge by building a second bridge.

Officials estimate it would take $350 million to bring the huge Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle’s waterfront up to seismic standards.