Truck collides with I-90 overpass in Issaquah

Published 11:25 am Friday, March 13, 2015

UPDATE: According to WSDOT’s Twitter feed, at 1:07 p.m. a bridge crew was removing concrete from Front Street and a bridge preservation crew was en route to the scene.

UPDATE 2: WSDOT spokesperson Travis Phelps has told the Reporter the bridge preservation crew was still en route to the Front Street/I-90 interchange as of 1:55 p.m.

Phelps said one eastbound lane had been closed on the highway, which was otherwise open to traffic. There were no backups on I-90 at the time of the call. Phelps said he could not provide an estimate on how long bridge preservation might be at the scene.

“Each time a bridge is damaged is unique, so we’re giving them as much time as they need,” Phelps said.

UPDATE 3: All blocked Front Street and interchange offramp lanes were reopened shortly after 4 p.m. The rightmost eastbound lane on I-90 remained closed.

ORIGINAL STORY: A semitruck collided with the Interstate 90 overpass on Front Street Friday morning, injuring its driver and temporarily backing up traffic at the interchange.

Police directed traffic at Front Street as WSDOT crews dealt with the scene, according to the city of Issaquah’s Twitter feed.

Shortly after noon, crewmen removed the truck, which bore the logo of “green” materials recovery company Recology CleanScapes, from the overpass. Its hydraulic bed was deployed and had punched a hole in the side of the concrete overpass. The truck cab had collapsed forward and was facing downward into the street.

The driver of the truck had been transported to the hospital for medical treatment and was in stable condition, said Kevin Kelly, the government and community affairs manager for Recology CleanScapes. Kelly refused to comment further.

“Right now we’re focused on clearing the site and then we’ll worry about figuring out what happened here,” he said.

The eastbound right lane on I-90 at Front Street was closed as crews inspected it for damage.

The left lane of the eastbound I-90 ramp to Front Street is also closed due to the collision.

Drivers are to expect delays and should try using alternative routes to sidestep the backup.

Recology CleanScapes is a Seattle-based company contracted with the city of Issaquah to collect its solid waste. It operates a reusable goods retailer in Gilman Village.

Megan Campbell contributed reporting to this story.