The state Route 508 South Fork Newaukum River bridge is seen in this 2013 file photo.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, looks at the wear and tear on the Newaukum Bridge on Highway 508 near Onalaska in September 2013.
Onalaska’s Newaukum River Bridge may be rusty, but it has character, according to the state Department of Transportation.
When the 86-year-old bridge is replaced later this year, it won’t be headed for the scrap heap, but will instead go to a new owner able to appreciate its significance, WSDOT announced this week.
The potential new owner’s name has not yet been released.
“They’ve asked not to be identified with media until it’s done,” said Tamara Greenwell, of WSDOT Communications. “They’re still working it out.”
About a dozen people expressed interest in taking the bridge during a six-month marketing campaign.
The potential new owner “understands what it’ll take to own the 86-year-old SR 508 Newaukum River Bridge,” Greenwell wrote in an email. “The individual plans to keep the bridge in Washington state.”
The bridge was briefly closed following a safety inspection in January 2015, which showed it was no longer structurally capable of supporting heavy loads. Crews installed a temporary, single-lane Bailey bridge over the existing bridge deck and traffic resumed.
In November 2016, WSDOT put out a call to prospective adoptive homes for the historic structure.
“Looking for a memorable gift for that special someone who’s hard to shop for?” a WSDOT blog post reads. “How about the State Route 508 South Fork Newaukum River Bridge? Located near Onalaska in Lewis County, it would make the perfect present for someone who has always wanted their own bridge, but didn’t know quite where to start.”
The Newaukum River Bridge is a “pony truss bridge,” which were often used to span short distances in the early part of the 20th century, according to WSDOT.
The bridge is one of 13 pony truss bridges over 50 years old still remaining on public roadways and is eligible for placement on the National Historic Register. Because of that, WSDOT was required to try to find the bridge a new home.
“Part of the environmental permitting to build the new bridge is to try to find a new owner for the historic trusses,” Greenwell said.
While the bridge isn’t strong enough to hold traffic anymore, Greenwell said it would be suitable for a pedestrian path or for personal vehicles on private property.
The new owner will get the two 90-foot Warren pony trusses.
“Based on where it’s going to be used and for what purpose, the person who uses it would build a new bridge deck,” Greenwell said.
The WSDOT is planning to begin construction on the new bridge this fall or winter. The new bridge will be built alongside the existing bridge. When the new span is completed, traffic will be rerouted and the old bridge will be removed.
