Vantage Bridge construction to shift to seven days per week

VANTAGE — The unofficial end of summer also means the winding down of most road construction projects, but some are still ongoing and drivers should plan for some delays through the end of October.  

Technically summer doesn’t end for about three more weeks, but the Labor Day weekend usually is considered its unofficial end. Road construction work is suspended today through Monday but will resume Tuesday.  

The first phase of the multiyear project to rebuild the Vantage Bridge on Interstate 90 will shift to a new construction schedule Tuesday. Throughout the summer work was suspended on weekends and both lanes were open, but as of Tuesday crews will be working seven days per week through the end of the construction season. 

One lane will be closed in each direction beginning Sept. 5, wrote Summer Derry, assistant communications manager for the Washington Department of Transportation south central region.  

“Both the eastbound and westbound lanes will be reduced to one narrow lane in each direction. Oversized load will be prohibited with no exceptions,” Derrey wrote. “Washington State Patrol will be stationed at both sides of the bridge enforcing the speed and width restrictions.” 

The seven-day restrictions will be in place throughout most of the harvest season, something that farmers and businesses should take into account, especially when shipping produce to the west side, according to Washington Department of Transportation officials.  

“Travelers should expect delays and are encouraged to choose alternate routes when possible. Long delays are especially likely for those headed eastbound on Fridays and westbound on Sundays” Derrey wrote.  

Message boards and warning signs have been installed along I-90 to alert travelers to possible delays at the bridge.  

A section of State Route 28 between Road 22 Northeast and Road X Northeast south of Wilson Creek will be subject to intermittent traffic stops as Grant County PUD contract crews work in the area.  

Work will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with scheduled completion by Sept. 9. Traffic will be subject to flagger-controlled stops.  

Local street projects continue in some cities.  

Crews will resume work Tuesday on a section of West Main Avenue in Soap Lake. The street is being repaved between South Ginkgo and South Cherry streets. Sidewalks will be replaced along the north side of Main Avenue. The street is closed while construction is underway. 

Crews are also working on Marina Way and a section of First Avenue Northeast near East Beach Park in Soap Lake. Sidewalks, curbs and gutters have been poured and the road is being paved. 

Work also is ongoing on sections of Virginia and Luta streets in Moses Lake. The one-block sections, formerly unpaved, are being upgraded with storm drains, gutters, sidewalks and paving.  

After six months, some aerial installation and a lot of rocks, the slope stabilization project along State Route 17 north of Soap Lake is scheduled for completion this week.  

Rocks, some bigger than a car, were falling in the road, said Washington State Department of Transportation engineer Miguel Castillo in an earlier interview. To stop that, crews broke off loose rocks and bolted other rocks to more-stable rocks behind them. Steel netting was installed to keep any rocks that do fall from bouncing in the road. 

    Washington Department of Transportation officials are suggesting alternate routes to avoid delays during seven-day construction at the Vantage Bridge.