The Interstate 5 bridge collapse in Skagit County wasn’t just a close brush with tragedy and cause some major detours, it also represents a threat to the economy.
As much as $20 billion in freight travels to and from Canada and along the busy north-south corridor each year on that route.
Gov. Inslee announced a plan Sunday to have temporary spans installed across the Skagit River but that will take a minimum of three weeks and probably longer, and detours around the bridge slow freight significantly. And then there’s also the issue of tourism- both in and out of Canada.