Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the office of Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Gov. Bob Ferguson today declared an emergency in King and Pierce counties as a result of the closure of the White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw. The bridge was severely damaged after being struck by a semi-truck on Aug. 18.

The Washington State Department of Transportation took immediate action, implementing emergency measures, closing the bridge and establishing a detour. WSDOT has been working to evaluate the damage and plan for temporary repairs as soon as possible. WSDOT teams were on the bridge immediately after the collision, conducting inspections and taking measurements for temporary repairs. WSDOT has already started fabricating pieces and securing other materials for the repairs.

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