A load limit has been put into effect to prohibit vehicles weighing over 15 tons gross vehicle weight from using the 102nd Avenue N.E. bridge in Bothell after it was damaged by a tractor trailer. All emergency vehicles will be allowed continued use of the bridge.

The driver of a tractor trailer was hauling a track hoe on the morning of Dec. 3 when the driver left the boom up and it hit the bridge. The impact caused significant damage to the bridge, estimated to be between $150,000 and $175,000.

The city is attempting to find a contractor to repair the damage but the work is specialized and finding a contractor would be difficult. City officials said that they hope to get the bridge repaired in the next 4-6 weeks.

City crews have since performed emergency inspections on the bridge and determined that, although the bridge is safe for smaller vehicles to drive on, continued use by over‐sized vehicles could further compromise the structural damage.

The City will soon be distributing and posting a detour map for vehicles weighing more than the 15 ton load limit.

This weight limit will continue until further notice.

The bridge had the same 15 ton weight restriction back in the 1990’s but this was later relaxed to 23 ton limit after upgrades were made to the bridge.