Damaged Bellevue Bridge Will Have Limited Reopening Monday Morning, Says WSDOT

Updated April 4:

The new NE 12th Street Bridge will be opened to westbound traffic only indefinitely, as inspectors assess the damage that occurred as crews removed the old bridge, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted over bridges crossing Interstate 405 at NE 8th and NE 10th, said Ronald W. Kessack, the city of Bellevue's Right of Way/Franchise manager in the transportation department.

 A piece of the old bridge struck the north side of the new bridge, causing damage to a girder that was 28 feet long by 1 foot high and 2 to 3 inches deep, he said. Eastbound traffic is being diverted because there is more room for detours on the west side of the bridge, he said.

The freeway closure that completely shut down I-405 over the weekend was due to the removal of the NE 12th Street Bridge. The removal of the bridge is part of the "Bellevue Braids" project, which will install new ramps linking I-405 with State Route 520 and with NE 10th Street.

A new bridge had to be built higher and longer in order to accomodate the new onramps, said Gil McNabb, project engineer with the Washington Department of Transportation.

The new bridge is about two and a half feet higher and 90 feet longer, according to statistics provided by the Washington Department of Transportation.

The new bridge will also be about 40 feet wider, with room for bicyclists and pedestrians, according to the Department of Transportation.

The bridge is scheduled to be completed in summer of 2012, about the same time as the completion of the new ramps, McNabb said.

The cost of the damage to the new bridge has not been determined, but it will be covered by the contractor, McNabb said.

"It won't be additional cost to the taxpayers," McNabb said.

Updated: April 3, 3:26 p.m.

The NE 12th Street Bridge in Bellevue will have a limited reopening Monday morning at 5 a.m., after an inspection for damage caused by the removal of the old bridge.

The removal of the old NE 12th Street Bridge was the reason behind the weekend-long closure of Interstate 405 which continues today through Monday morning at 4 a.m.

Traffic on the new NE 12th Street Bridge will be limited to one westbound lane only, according to a press release by the Washington Department of Transportation. The current bridge carries one lane of traffic in each direction when it is completely open. Drivers headed eastbound over the freeway are advised to take bridges on NE 10th or NE 8th.

According to the Washington Department of Transportation, during the removal process Saturday, a concrete piece from the old bridge hit a girder on the new bridge at the west end in an area that is not directly over I-405 lanes.

Damage isn’t considered major, but further analysis and plans will determine how and when the damage will be repaired.

The incident from yesterday morning will have no effect on the anticipated 4 a.m. Monday reopening of I-405, which is closed all weekend for the demolition of the old 12th Street bridge.

For details and detour routes, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE8thtoSR520/NE12th.htm

Earlier story:

Engineers are assessing damage to the new Northeast 12th Street bridge over Interstate 405 after a piece of concrete from the old bridge fell onto it.

The state Department of Transportation says the piece unexpectedly shifted and fell during demolition over the weekend.

Crews will determine if the south portion of the new bridge, which carries one lane of traffic in each direction for now, can reopen Monday at 5 a.m. as planned.

Meanwhile, I-405 in both directions in Bellevue between Northeast Eighth Street and state Route 520 until 4 a.m. Monday while workers finish removing and cleaning up the old 12th Street Bridge. The ramps from both directions of Interstate 90 to northbound I-405 and from both directions of SR 520 to southbound I-405 are also closed.