The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Drivers who use Chamber Way over Interstate 5 in Lewis County will need to continue taking alternate routes for the foreseeable future.

Around 11:45 a.m. today, July 22, a semi-truck hauling a pair of excavators hit the overpass, causing significant structural damage. Concrete debris from the overpass struck two vehicles.

Due to the extent of damage to the girders and for the safety of the traveling public, the Washington State Department of Transportation has closed the overpass until repairs are made.

“We know this closure is a huge inconvenience for the community,” said WSDOT Maintenance Manager Glenn Schneider. “Repairing the bridge is going to take time, because each damaged part is unique and integral to the overall strength of the bridge.”

The impact to the overpass has caused significant delays to southbound I-5. One of two lanes is closed until WSDOT can remove loose debris and bridge cables that are hanging over the right lane of the freeway. Backups have stretched 11 miles to Grand Mound in Thurston County.

Washington State Patrol issued citations to the semi-truck driver. Final repair costs are still being determined. WSDOT will work to recover the costs for the emergency response and repairs from the responsible parties.

WSDOT will inspect the overpass to determine the full extent of the damage and develop a repair plan. Designing and constructing replacement bridge components takes time, and it may take several months until the overpass can reopen to traffic.