Work continues in Kent on the Green River Bridge on Meeker Street, which closed to vehicle traffic Aug. 5 and will remain closed through Sept. 29.
Crews installed scaffolding and a white cover for the repainting of the structure after minor structural repairs, were completed, according to the city of Kent.
The bridge is a major entry and exit point to the city’s core via Meeker Street with access to and from State Route 516, aka Kent Des Moines Road, and Reith Road.
The Kent City Council awarded the project May 21 to Longview-based Mericka Group LLC, which submitted the low bid of $2.71 million for repainting and deck repairs, minor structural repairs to the bridge, erosion and sediment control, work access, containment and traffic control. The need for paint is obvious with rust spots clearly showing corrosion. The bridge, built in 1958, was last painted in the 1990s, according to city documents.
Federal grants received by the city will cover most of the costs, according to city documents. One grant will cover repainting the steel superstructure and the other one for rehabilitating the bridge deck.
The city’s Riverbend Golf Complex and the large Ethos Apartments sit just east of the bridge. It is a popular commuting route that city officials announced this summer would close for eight weeks for repairs and repainting.
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