I-90 Columbia Crossing Closing To Wide Loads

The main Columbia River crossing in Eastern Washington will be off-limits to wide loads next Monday through Friday.

The Interstate 90 bridge at Vantage will be closed to loads wider than 11 feet while crews for the state Department of Transportation make repairs, said George Kelly, supervisor.

Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction.

The restrictions won’t affect most commercial truckers, whose trailers are about 8 feet wide, said Kelly. Modular homes, which sometimes are moved long distances on I-90, often are wider than 11 feet.

The bridge is midway between Seattle and Spokane. The closest alternative crossings are 50 miles downstream on state Highway 24 or 55 miles upstream in Wenatchee.

Crews are installing new steel plates to expansion joints in the bridge, a project that will cost about $25,000. Kelly said the work was timed to start after school started but before the weather turns cold.

, DataTimes