SAPPHO — The Sol Duc River bridge is closed to commercial vehicles until at least Thursday afternoon for emergency repairs after an unidentified overheight vehicle damaged the structure.
The bridge is on U.S. Highway 101 at milepost 203 near Sappho and 10 miles north of Forks.
Traffic is restricted to vehicles 11 feet wide and 14 feet tall alternating in the westbound lane.
The only detour for vehicles wider than 11 feet or taller than 14 feet traveling to Forks is U.S. Highway 101 north from Aberdeen.
“We’re estimating Thursday afternoon. We’ll be working daylight hours until it is completed,” said Don Clotfelter, maintenance superintendent for the state Department of Transportation’s Port Angeles office.
“Whomever hit the bridge just kept going. We want to find who it is so they can help pay for repairs.”
Clotfelter said a Department of Transportation supervisor noticed extensive damage to the bridge’s upper steel structure, including the portals, sway braces and crossarms, on Thursday morning.
Transportation placed restrictions of 105,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on the bridge Monday after inspectors determined emergency repairs were needed, he said.
