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Bridge in La Conner gets emergency inspection

The Rainbow Bridge in La Conner was closed Thursday for an emergency inspection after there were concerns about its structural integrity.

A 911 caller told authorities that there was big cracking sound on the bridge. Dust was seen and debris dropped from the bridge. Authorities were initially concerned it was concrete from the bridge. However, an engineer said it also could have been fireworks.

“There’s never been a problem,” said Pat Smyth, who has lived in La Conner since it opened in 1957. “They’ve taken good care of the bridge.”

The bridge is about 70 miles northwest of Seattle and about a 20-minute drive from the Skagit River Bridge that collapsed on May 24, 2013. State engineers driving from Olympia were having problems getting to the bridge because of Fourth of July holiday traffic.

The steel bridge is about 796 feet long and when it opened it was the only orange bridge in Washington State. The bridge connects LaConner and Fidalgo Island.

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