Travel alert: Heading to Oregon may take a little longer after semi damages I-82 bridge

When drivers get back on the roads after the holidays, they may find it slow going south of Kennewick.

The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to fix a damaged girder that supports the shoulder of the Interstate 82 above Highway 397 at Locust Grove Road.

A truck with an oversize load hit the bottom the bridge on Dec. 16. The crash damaged the girder supporting the shoulder of the interstate southbound toward Oregon.

The work is expected to start in January and continue through the early part of spring.

To fix the bridge, crews need space to remove and replace the girder, so they will set up a temporary barrier to move traffic away from the shoulder. They will also be reducing the speed limit through the area.

The department is seeking emergency funding as well as money from the trucker’s insurance company to pay for the repairs.