Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, uses a telephoto lens provided by The Chronicle to get a closer look at erosion on the steel beams of the Newaukum Bridge on state Route 508 east of Onalaska on Wednesday evening.
A truck passes over the Newaukum Bridge on state Route 508 east of Onalaska on Wednesday afternoon.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, left, Lewis County Public Works Director Tim Elsea, center, and Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose walk underneath the Newaukum Bridge looking at the wear and tear it has taken over the years on Wednesday afternoon along state Route 508 east of Onalaska.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, looks at the wear and tear on the Newaukum Bridge on state Route 508 near Onalaska on Wednesday afternoon.
Lewis County Public Works Director Tim Elsea, left, Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, center and Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose evaluate damage to the Newaukum Bridge on Highway 508 on Wednesday afternoon outside Onalaska.
ONALASKA — State and county officials spent Wednesday afternoon touring the state Route 508 South Fork Newaukum River Bridge, which had to close from June 21 to July 2 last year to temporarily repair significant rust eroding away the structure.
The Lewis County Commission invited 20th District legislator, Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, to the bridge site on Wednesday. Orcutt was joined by Commissioners Edna Fund and Lee Grose and Public Works Director Tim Elsea.
“I’ve crossed this bridge a few times,” Orcutt said. “To me, it always helps to see it in person.”
The Washington State Department of Transportation had to put a 7-ton weight limit on the bridge last year after a routine inspection found the rust weakening the structure.
Design work for a replacement bridge could begin as early as 2015, with construction beginning in 2017 at the earliest based on available funding, according to WSDOT.
Orcutt said the long-term timeline is unacceptable.
“That really concerns me,” Orcutt said. “(WSDOT) has wasted that much on the state Route 520 bridge. The errors on major projects have taken away from highways in the rural communities.”
New stop signs have been placed on both sides of the 83-year-old bridge to give oversized-loads a final chance to take a detour route.
The weight limit and signs will remain indefinitely for the bridge.
Fund said she was pleased to see Orcutt take the time to visit the bridge on Wednesday.
“We told him this has been a tough situation because the detours are so far,” Fund said.
Orcutt serves on the House Transportation Committee, which considers the transportation budget, revenue sources and issues relating to transportation policy.
“Commissioner Fund brought this to my attention to see what we can do to get this resolved,” Orcutt said.
When the bridge eventually is replaced, it will have to be built higher since it is in a 100-year flood zone, Elsea told the group on Wednesday.
The bridge currently has a two out of 100 rating, the lowest in the region, due to its age and narrow width, according to WSDOT.
The sooner the bridge can be replaced, the better, Orcutt said.
“I’ll talk with WSDOT and find out why they have it so far out and see if we can get it moved up, because it is so important to this community,” Orcutt said.
