Washington State Taking Steps to Avoid Truck-Related Bridge Collapses

Hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2013 Skagit River Bridge collapse, state transportation officials have created a new online tool to help truckers plan their routes and avoid collisions.

A section of that bridge on Interstate 5 fell into the Skagit River after a truck carrying a tall load hit the bridge in Mount Vernon. Two other vehicles also went into the water and three people had to be rescued. The drivers survived but a state trooper was killed while handling all the traffic.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated and said one of the causes was insufficient route planning. It recommended better warnings of low-clearance bridges.

The Washington State Department of Transportation responded by creating a tool is called the "state route bridge vertical clearance trip planner." It's a database that allows truck drivers to enter their information and it provides warnings about potential conflicts.