Boat traffic closes 1st Ave. S. Bridge

Officials with the Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) recently announced that 1st Ave. S. Bridge was closed today because of boat traffic; for motorists, the north bound as well as south bound lanes of State Route 99 over 1st Ave. S. Bridge (MP 26) were closed beginning at 12:50 p.m. because of boat traffic, and the drivers experienced a delay amounting to approximately 15 minutes.

They were encouraged to use an alternative route for their commutes to and from home and work or school.

Transportation and infrastructure are crucial to both the local Washington economy as well as the overall U.S. economy. Boat traffic is an important part of this, and closing the bridge to make accommodations for the boat traffic was the best way to handle the situation.

Transportation and infrastructure within the U.S. has been in a challenging state for the last several months. The Highway Trust Fund, which finances all infrastructure projects within the U.S., expired earlier this summer. Congress put off making a long-term solution bill for the trust fund until they made a short-term extension to Oct. 29.

Foregoing making a final decision about U.S. infrastructure financing and projects is detrimental to the U.S. economy. Local and national businesses require infrastructure to transport goods, and employees need transportation to reach their destinations for work each day.

Fortunately, traffic regained its usual schedule within Washington after the bridge closing.