Zeiger amendment to expedite replacement of aging bridges included in House transportation budget

Zeiger amendment to expedite replacement of aging bridges included in House transportation budget

An amendment to expedite replacement of aging bridges was included in the supplemental transportation budget passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Sponsored by Rep. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup, the amendment would accelerate the permitting and contracting process to replace state bridges that are deemed structurally deficient.

“I offered this amendment because it’s taken us too long to replace the Meridian Street Puyallup River Bridge,” said Zeiger, R-Puyallup.

This bridge in Puyallup was built in 1925 and has a structural sufficiency rating of two out of one hundred. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) restricted northbound truck traffic to the bridge’s right lane more than three years ago.

“We have many, many structurally deficient bridges in Washington,” said Zeiger. “This is simply a matter of public safety. This amendment would reduce the time and cost to replace a structurally deficient bridge.”

The Puyallup River Bridge is prioritized for replacement by the WSDOT but work is not expected to be complete on a new bridge until late 2015.

Zeiger’s House Bill 2071, which was similar to the amendment passed on Tuesday, was voted out of the House Transportation Committee earlier in the legislative session, but was not brought up for a vote before the full House of Representatives.

The House transportation budget passed by a vote of 73-24. It is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

For more information about Rep. Zeiger, visit: www.representativehanszeiger.com.

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