CLE ELUM, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Transportation said construction on the damaged I-90 overpass near Cle Elum will start by the end of November, which will lead to I-90 closures during construction.
The Bullfrog Road Overpass sits above the westbound lanes of I-90 near Cle Elum and was damaged when .
and new plans were submitted less than a week after the incident.
Now, the Washington State Department of Transportation said the overpass replacement will once again span over westbound I-90 in the same spot.
During construction, short-term full closures of westbound I-90 will take place. The dates of the closures have not yet been released by the department.
When closures take place, traffic will detour using the westbound on and off ramps at Exit 80.
“Safety is our top priority,” said Brian White, WSDOT region administrator. “Our crews are working as quickly as possible to reopen the bridge while keeping both workers and travelers safe. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we complete this critical repair through winter conditions.”
Construction will use pre-cast girders or concrete support beams, according to the department. After the beams are built, crews build the bridge’s concrete sidewalls and reopen the overpass.
The repairs are funded by Governor Bob Ferguson’s emergency proclamation, which allocated around $8 million to repair the bridge.
The bridge is expected to reopen around January 2026, according to the department. Further maintenance will happen in the spring, when crews will apply a thin concrete overlay in better temperatures, which will cause more temporary closures.
Current detours direct eastbound I-90 travelers driving to Suncadia or Roslyn to take Exit 85 to State Route 903. Westbound I-90 travelers going to South Bullfrog Road or Leisure Lane to use Exit 78 and then to go east on II-90 to Exit 80.
Travelers from Suncadia and Roslyn areas are directed to use State Route 903 to reach alternate westbound I-90 access points, the department said.
