Bridge work on major road causes traffic delays in south Thurston County
Bridge work is causing traffic delays for commuters on state Route 507 in south Thurston County on Thursday.
Work crews are cleaning a bridge that crosses the Deschutes River at milepost 20.4 of the highway, according to Washington State Department of Transportation spokesperson Cara Mitchell.
The work is occurring on a portion of the highway between Rainier and Tenino. Work crews are using specialized under-bridge inspection trucks to reach beside and under the bridge, Mitchell said. This work occurs annually, she added. Similar work is planned for the Nisqually River Bridge on northbound Interstate 5 this weekend, The Olympian previously reported.
“For safety, the work can only be performed during daylight hours,” Mitchell said in an emailed statement Thursday morning.
The work is affecting both directions of the highway. Work crews are directing drivers through the work zone, Mitchell said.
“Alternating one-way traffic is in place,” Mitchell said. “Currently, there is less than a half-mile backup approaching the bridge.”
The work started just before 8 a.m. Thursday and is scheduled to finish by 2 p.m.
