Drivers in Tacoma soon have one less work zone to navigate. Girder replacement is complete on the State Route 509 Puyallup River Bridge and crews will restore the roadway to its normal four-lane configuration and lift the 35 miles per hour speed reduction during a full closure scheduled May 8.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and contractor Granite Construction Company replaced 14 girders and repaired columns which were damaged in a December 2002 rail-car fire. Construction began in October 2009. WSDOT awarded the $2.9 million repair contract to Granite Construction Company in June 2009. Funding comes from a settlement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe and existing funds.

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For earlier Tacoma Daily Index coverage, click on the following links:

WSDOT contractors begin SR-509 bridge girder removals — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1668077&more=0

SR-509 bridge repair begins soon — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1648532&more=0

Weather-permitting, crews will close both directions of SR 509, between I-705 and Port of Tacoma Road, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat., May 8. A signed detour will direct motorists to I-705, I-5 and Port of Tacoma Road. During the closure crews will restripe and reconfigure the roadway. To keep traffic moving during construction for the nearly 32,000 drivers who use SR 509 daily, crews reduced a segment of the four-lane bridge to one lane in each direction and lowered the speed limit to 35 miles per hour. When the roadway opens to traffic Saturday evening, two lanes of travel will be open in each direction and the speed limit returns to 60 miles per hour.

The roadway remains restricted for overweight vehicles between I-705 and Port of Tacoma Road, mileposts 0.0 and 2.81. The maximum load is 105,500 pounds. Crews will lift the weight restriction once final repairs and inspections are complete beneath the bridge deck.

For project information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr509/puyallupriverbridge/ .