US 97 delays starting Aug. 8
Drivers on US 97 nine miles north of Goldendale will encounter a week of single-lane traffic starting Wednesday, Aug. 8, while crews construct a temporary bypass bridge over Butler Creek.
Drivers can expect congestion and delays of up to 20 minutes during bridge construction. Crews will work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on:
• Wednesday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Aug. 11
• Monday, Aug. 13 through Wednesday, Aug. 15
Narrowing US 97 to a single lane allows contractor crews with Rotschy Inc. to place concrete deck slabs, pave, and stripe a bypass road alongside US 97, and install signs and barrier.
The two-lane bypass bridge is expected to be complete by Thursday, Aug. 16. Once it’s ready for traffic, crews will shift all US 97 drivers onto the bypass.
Moving traffic to the bypass bridge allows crews to remove the Butler Creek culvert under US 97 and build a new wildlife connectivity bridge.