New Bellevue Bridge Damaged During Demolition of Old One

Engineers are assessing damage to the new Northeast 12th Street bridge over Interstate 405 after a piece of concrete from the old bridge fell onto it.

The state Department of Transportation says the piece unexpectedly shifted and fell during demolition over the weekend.

The new bridge will have a limited reopening Monday morning at 5 a.m., after an inspection for damage caused by the removal of the old bridge.

Traffic on the new NE 12th Street Bridge will be limited to one westbound lane only, according to a press release by the Washington Department of Transportation. The current bridge carries one lane of traffic in each direction when it is completely open. Drivers headed eastbound over the freeway are advised to take bridges on NE 10th or NE 8th.

According to the Washington Department of Transportation, during the removal process Saturday, a concrete piece from the old bridge hit a girder on the new bridge at the west end in an area that is not directly over I-405 lanes. The removal of the old NE 12th Street Bridge was the reason behind the weekend-long closure of Interstate 405 which concluded hours ago Monday morning at 4 a.m.

Damage isn’t considered major, but further analysis and plans will determine how and when the damage will be repaired.

For details and detour routes, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE8thtoSR520/NE12th.htm