Another interstate highway bridge has collapsed into a major American River. The Skagit River Bridge was built in 1955, and it a bridge I've crossed many times without giving it a second thought.
A portion of an interstate highway bridge in Washington state collapsed Thursday night, sending cars and people into the waI-5 Bridge Collapse Over Skagit River in Washington Sends Cars, People Into Waterter, authorities said.
The collapse occurred on the Interstate 5 freeway over the Skagit River in Skagit County, Wash., about two hours north of Seattle.
It was unclear whether there were any injuries.
"N/B and S/B lanes of I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapsed," Washington State Trooper Mark Francis posted on Twitter. "People and cars in water."
Washington Republicans captured the state's Senate
when two "Democrats" switched parties.. Now they are attempting to starve the beast, being the state government. This state's infrastructure is in sad shape the state's bridges were given a
C- grade. Right now one of the most contentious issues before the state legislature is if it can come up with the money to replace an older I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.
Fortunately there is no indications that there was any loss of life yet. Many vehicles that dropped into the river were only partially submerged.
70,000 vehicles cross this bridge every day. I live in one of the areas likely to be affected by the long term traffic problems this will create since most of the goods that reach the grocery stores here on the island go over that northbound span. There is already a monster traffic jam in the area 90 minutes after the collapse.
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UPDATE: Eyewitnesses report that an over-sized truck struck the top pat of the bridge then the truck made it over the span before it collapsed.