Whelan Bridge work continues

The Whelan Bridge replacement project four miles north of Pullman continues, with welding together girders, which started last Thursday, Sept. 13, followed by grouting joints over welds this week. Next is backfilling on abutments, aligning guardrail and clean-up. Traffic will then be routed over the new bridge from the temporary bridge used for construction.

The girders were made by Old Castle Pre-Stress of Spokane.

The six-week project, which started in late July, will replace an old wooden bridge with a tri-deck reinforced concrete span – expected to last 60-75 years.

The Whelan Bridge was reinforced – structural elements rehabilitated – in the 1990s, which added to its lifespan.

The budget for the new bridge is $143,500, with the county's Public Works department doing the entire project.