Alternative routes suggested for Vantage Bridge travel

QUINCY — The Washington Department of Transportation is installing additional signs to inform drivers of delays at the Vantage Bridge. Construction is ongoing at the bridge seven days per week through Nov. 1. Eastbound drivers on Interstate 90 experienced significant delays Sept. 6, the first Friday of 24/7 construction. Megan Lott, communications manager for the WSDOT south central region, said a concert at the Gorge Amphtheater led to eastbound traffic increases and added to the backups.  

“As part of the project we’re implementing a ‘Smart Work Zone’ with dynamic messaging and speed limits to help reduce crashes in the work zone,” Lott wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “This technology will provide real-time information on travel times, alert drivers of slowing or stopping traffic ahead and display reduced speed limits as they approach the work zone. Unfortunately, some of the new technology wasn’t functioning properly Friday (Sept. 6).” 

Department of Transportation employees were working one of the caution signs at the Adams Road exit east of Quincy Wednesday, checking the electronics.  

“We are working to get the technology fully operational by this weekend, and don’t anticipate a similar traffic surge as the major summer travel weekends are winding down,” Lott wrote.  

Upgrades to the bridge are projected to take three years. The old bridge deck will be removed and replaced with new precast concrete panels.  

“The contractor has spent most of this construction season building a structure beneath the bridge to support the replacement of the bridge deck,” Lott wrote. 

The DOT is suggesting that drivers think about using alternate routes until the end of the construction season. All lanes of the bridge will be open from November through spring 2025. 

Lott said the DOT has published a map of the alternative routes. 

“The map serves as an additional resource for the public and is not displayed on our real-time travel map, which focuses on delays and congestion rather than alternative routes,” she wrote.  

The suggested east-west alternatives include Blewett Pass through Wenatchee and Quincy. The second major alternative route is Interstate 82 from Yakima through Tri-Cities, then Highway 395 to Ritzville.  

Drivers will be going old school over Blewett Pass, through Wenatchee and Quincy to the freeway down State Route 28. For most of the trip SR 28 is two lanes and winds through apple country – and in September and October, that means harvest. The access route from Quincy to the freeway is State Route 281, and it’s also harvest season for all the other crops grown around Quincy, from onions to corn. The route also takes drivers through the  Wenatchee or East Wenatchee and Quincy. 

Sebastian Moraga, communications officer for the north central DOT office, said drivers should think about taking a break somewhere along the route. 

“(State Route) 28 is a narrow road with a heavy truck presence, so I’d recommend avoiding long stretches of driving into SR 28 without breaks,” Moraga wrote in response to an email. “Also, I would recommend keeping your headlights on and checking our real-time travel map prior to getting in your car. Depending on your trip’s length, SR 28 goes through at least two cities, so I would recommend paying extra close attention to the fluctuating speed limits.” 

Lott said drivers should build some flexibility into their schedules while the construction is underway. While the travel season is winding down, there are still some big events scheduled over the next six weeks, including the annual Apple Cup in Seattle on Saturday.  

“We recognize that the suggested alternate routes may also experience delays due to harvest and construction activities. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to schedule around every project, holiday or event without hindering progress,” Lott wrote. “While we are working hard to minimize disruptions, we ask that travelers stay informed, plan ahead and be prepared for potential challenges.”