I-5 bridge over Skagit River collapses

[kkt]

Oh, and this is too funny not to pass on:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/07/24/initiative-filed-to-name-skagit-river-bridge-after-tim-eyman/

Initiative filed to name Skagit River bridge after Tim Eyman

An initiative to the Legislature was filed Wednesday that would apparently name the infamous Skagit River bridge – that collapsed on Interstate 5 in May — after Tim Eyman.

The measure reads: "That portion of state route number 5 from the junction with state route number 538 in Mount Vernon, thence northerly to the junction with state route 20 in Burlington is designated "the Tim Eyman Memorial Bridge" , dedicated to the efforts of Tim Eyman to reduce Washington State tax revenues and the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge on May 23, 2013."

(and the article continues)

Idiots. The bridge collapsed because a non-redundant member was hit by a truck, not because of any issues with cost-cutting or maintenance.

Yes, it's a most unfair attack.  Much like Eyman's initiatives.

[Kacie Jane]

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/07/27/3114860/metal-piece-comes-loose-on-new.html

BURLINGTON, WASH. – The new temporary Skagit River Bridge on Interstate 5 will be closed one lane at a time on Saturday night for inspections after a metal joint came loose, state transportation officials said.

Part of an "L" joint that holds the asphalt in place between the temporary bridge and permanent roadway came loose Saturday morning and the right lane of the bridge was closed for about two hours while crews welded the joint back into place and spread new asphalt, Transportation Department spokesman Kris Olsen said.

The rest of the joints will be inspected between 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday.

[agentsteel53]

glad I wasn't there Saturday!  we detoured via WA-530 to WA-9 to avoid that bridge.

it appeared uneventful Sunday on our return to Seattle.