Inside/Out Newsletter
Leudinghaus Bridge—New, Improved, and Worth the Wait Lewis County residents waited eight years for a replacement to the old Leudinghaus Bridge that was destroyed by a flood in 2007. In December 2007, record rainfall in the Pacfic Northwest caused a devastating flood that washed out Leudinghaus Bridge that had been built in 1922 and crossed the Chehalis River in rural Lewis County, Washington. For eight long years, residents of the unincorporated neighboring communities of Doty, Dryad, and Meskill—approximately 15 miles west of the city of Chehalis—had been anticipating the bridge’s replacement. On 11 February 2016, their wish was realized with the grand opening of a new and improved Leudinghaus Bridge, also known as Mays Bridge. Relocated further upstream, about a quarter mile away from its original location, Leudinghaus Bridge is a 200-foot-long structure connecting Hatchery Road off State Route 6 with Leudinghaus Road. Although the new bridge was constructed at a relatively new location, some features remained the same as with the old bridge. When it came to design of the new bridge, the roadway profile could not be raised to maximize the debris clearance between the underside of the bridge and the flood elevation of the river, so the original steel truss design fit the conditions best. The steel truss allows for more debris clearance, because it has a shallower depth (i.e. distance from the roadway surface to the bottom of the structure) than a girder bridge for the span being used. While aesthetically appealing, steel truss is a less common bridge design today—versus more modern bridge types, such as precast concrete—because of its high-maintenance requirements. Ultimately, it was the best option all around for the replacement bridge and worth the wait for local residents. The 2007 flood event that demolished the original bridge during a severe winter storm was declared a
Residents celebrate completion of the new Leudinghaus Bridge that will significantly shorten their commute times.
major disaster, making funding eligible through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The project, with a nearly $6 million price tag, wasn’t approved until 2012. However, despite the long delay, locals welcomed the new bridge with much fanfare at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on 11 February 2016. More than 100 people turned out for the event, including members of a local classic car club who drove their vintage vehicles ceremoniously over the bridge. The maiden crossing, however, was reserved for a long-time Lewis County resident who chose to walk her way across.
Editors/Contributors Lynn Enebrad Nora Bretaña Karen Harbaugh Lauren Hurst Jana Roy Renée Stiehl Amanda Schweickert Dee Young
BergerABAM served as prime consultant and provided structural engineering and design for the project. During the event, Lewis County recognized BergerABAM Project Manager Chuck Spry and Construction Manager Bob Lee who described the project as technically challenging but very rewarding.
Design and Production Lynn Enebrad To update your contact information, please e-mail newsletter@abam.com
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