PORT ANGELES — Clallam County received an Award of Excellence from the Federal Highway Administration and state Department of Transportation for the Elwha River Bridge.
Clallam County dedicated the $19.9 million, double-deck bridge last September.
The 85-foot-tall, 589-foot-long span replaced a one-lane bridge that closed shortly after the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.
The DOT recognized the bridge just west of Port Angeles with the Director’s Award, one of four projects that received an Award of Excellence.
“This bridge replacement project includes a unique hanging pedestrian facility below the main road superstructure, which was one of the goals that came out of working closely with citizens and local businesses,” according to the Director’s Award citation.
“Construction of the bridge met with significant challenges due to the extreme terrain, so with the creativity used on the under-bridge pedestrian walkway, this stronger, narrower road bridge was possible. This monumental project was completed on time and within budget.”
The bridge was paid for with federal bridge funding and by the Board of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Board and Clallam County.
Other awards went to the city of Deer Park, the city of Leavenworth and Snohomish County.
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