The Chehalis River Bridge outside Montesano will close for up to three days, starting today.
The Washington State Department of Transportation alerts travelers that settlement repairs will require a temporary closure of the bridge starting today and remaining closed through 8am, Friday August 9.
WSDOT says that newly discovered pier settlement and work to correct the issue is causing the closure.
The WSDOT says the closure is necessary so that contractor crews can begin efforts to further stabilize the south end of the approach while construction to rehabilitate the crossing continues.
WSDOT says when the settlement was discovered, crews immediately development an action plan and installed temporary shoring to keep traffic moving safely across the bridge.
However, due to increasingly poor soil conditions, significant settlement has continued during that time frame and additional shoring and jacking measures are now required to prevent further settlement.
Travelers are currently utilizing the western, single lane of the bridge while the east half of the bridge is being demolished.
In the spring of 2020, one-way alternating traffic will be shifted to the east side of the bridge as the process is repeated and the western lane will be demolished and constructed.
During the repairs, travelers will follow a signed detour using US 101 and US 12 around the work zone.