Critics say not enough done to make bridges safer a year after Skagit River Bridge Collapse

A year ago it was one strike in the wrong place that caused the Skagit River Bridge to collapse into the water.

The bridge is one of 185 spans across the state that is "fracture critical," said Bart Treece, WSDOT spokesperson

This means if something hits part of the structure with enough impact part or all of the structure could collapse.

"Anytime you hit a bridge with freeway speeds you're going to have problems,"

He said fracture critical bridges are still safe to use.

"There's a lot of things that should have safeguarded the bridge that didn't work the way it was supposed to with the way the traffic was moving," said Treece.

Dan and Sally Sligh were in one of two cars that plunged into the water that night.

They miraculously survived.

Their attorney, Chris Davis, thinks the state isn't doing enough to make fracture critical bridges safer.

"If we have another chance of a Skagit River case occurring I would think the state would want to do whatever is reasonably possible to minimize that risk as possible," said Davis.

The Slighs are considering legal action against the trucking company, the pilot car company, and the state.

"If you look at the Skagit River Bridge case it was totally preventable," said Davis.

Treece said WSDOT works hard to provide information on bridge clearances to truckers and pilot car drivers.

"There's a lot of things that should have safeguarded the bridge that didn't work the way it was supposed to with the way the traffic was moving," Treece said. "We can't drive the route for truckers."

WSDOT also owns 140 bridges across the state that are "structurally deficient."

Treece said while the classification sounds dangerous, he assured us the bridges are safe.

"If at any time a bridge is unsafe we'll be sure to close it," said Treece.

The Skagit River Bridge closed and eventually was replaced with a permanent structure, but it is still on the fracture critical list.

We asked WSDOT why the State can't prioritize work for fracture critical bridges.

Treece said there isn’t enough money to replace  all of the bridges on the fracture critical list.

KIRO