Washington’s State Route 510 east of Lacey is open again following emergency repairs to a collapsed culvert that caused part of the roadway to sink.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closed the stretch between Old Pacific Highway and Rockcress Drive Southeast on April 24 after inspections revealed multiple failures in a culvert located more than 25 feet beneath the highway.
The damage allowed water to wash away soil beneath the roadbed, causing the pavement to drop five inches.
To expedite the $1.2 million project, WSDOT declared an emergency and deployed its hydraulic crews alongside contractors to dig through approximately 6,000 cubic yards of earth.
A new 105-foot culvert was installed, and the roadway was rebuilt, repaved, and restriped.
Roughly 13,000 vehicles use that section of SR 510 daily. WSDOT thanked drivers for their patience during the nearly two-week closure.
Officials warn the SR 510 culvert failure is part of a broader infrastructure challenge. WSDOT estimates around 1,500 state-owned culverts are nearing or have exceeded their lifespan, with many over 50 years old. These aging structures pose increasing risks for similar collapses and costly emergency closures statewide.
Source: Washington State Department of Transportation, MSN.com
