By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Alaska Department of Transportation officials reduced the speed limit on three bridges near Seward, and have cut the spans down to one lane until they can figure out a more permanent solution.

The bridges are between miles 22 and 25 of the Seward Highway.

DOT officials said the bridges were not in danger of collapse, however.

“We have known for sometime that these bridges were structurally deficient,” said Rick Feller, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. “Improved testing techniques showed that the bridges had worsened to the point that something needed to be done sooner.”

Recent inspections detected weakened structural supports for three bridges in the Trail Lakes area, prompting speed reductions for vehicles crossing the bridges, according to Department of Transportation officials.

The speed reductions are at the bridges spanning Ptarmigan Creek, Falls Creek and Trail River.

“A lot of fuel and supplies come in and out of Seward and this road is the only link to the city,” said Aves Thompson, executive director of the Alaska Trucking Association. “We are more concerned about the bridge structure.”

Thompson said the association has met with DOT to discuss some alternatives, and how trucking firms can work with the department.

“The question is if DOT knew that these bridges were deficient, why have they not fixed them before now?” said Thompson.

State officials say they have been working along the highway to make various improvements.

“DOT has been working their way up to these bridges, but worked on improving miles 0 to 2 and miles 8 to 18 first,” Feller said.

Electronic message boards will sit along the roadsides, posting a speed reduction notice to all traffic. Limits will drop to 20 miles per hour, down from the 55 mph, while crossing the bridges.

“The reduced speeds will dramatically lessen the dynamic loading factor on the bridges, providing enhanced safety margins while further inspection, design and repair work is conducted,” said DOT Central Region Director Gordon Keith. “This speed reduction is regulated and will be enforced.”

Feller said the bridges have been the state's a list to be repaired or replaced, and that DOT's action will speed up the process of receiving federal funding to fix them.

Further inspections of the bridges will be conducted the week of Dec. 22. To conduct the inspections, commercial vehicle use of the bridges must be restricted, according to DOT.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com">rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.