CHELAN FALLS - LINK Transit begins a no-fare shuttle service from Chelan Falls today, Sept. 11, to help people impacted by closure of the Beebe bridge.
     The bridge was damaged in an Aug. 31 tractor-trailer crash that killed two people.
     The bridge on U.S. Highway 97 remains closed to vehicles, but pedestrians have been crossing at the rate of about 200 per day since Sept. 8, according to the state Department of Transportation.
     "We've been hearing from individuals who want the bridge opened at different times," Project Engineer Brantley Bain said. "But we also have to provide the contractor with the hours needed to do repair work that can't be done with pedestrians on the bridge."
     DOT officials coordinated with the Lake Chelan School District to accommodate some 90 students living on the east side of the river. The Chelan County PUD has provided parking at its parks on both shores near the bridge, and LINK Transit has provided bus service from the parks to the bridge and to downtown Chelan.
     The closest bridges across the Columbia are at Brewster and Wenatchee.
     Hours the bridge is open to pedestrians havenít been changed, but LINKís schedule has, the DOT said.
     Effective today, Sept. 11, LINK began the no-fare shuttle service from Chelan Falls Park earlier, at 5:30 a.m., so the bus will be at the bridge when it opens at 6 a.m.
     At the same time, since no one has used bus service after the 6:30 p.m. run, that now becomes the last run each day. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and bicyclists until 9 p.m.
     The weekend schedule for the bridge openings is the same as weekdays ñ 6-8:30 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 3:30-9 p.m.
     LINK service on Saturday begins two hours later, at 7:30 a.m. and ends with the last bus at 6:30 p.m., DOT officials said.
     On Sunday, there will be no bus service.
     LINK will post a map and schedule for the DOT-sponsored shuttle throughout the area.
     LINK provides service to Chelan Wal-Mart, downtown to U.S. Highway 97A/Woodin Way, right on Navarre/Gibson Street, then left on state Highway 150 to the Chelan Chamber of Commerce office, Chelan High School and back down to the Chelan Falls Park.
     "We're going to continue to see if we can open the bridge at other hours, but how quickly the repair work progresses will determine that," Bain said.
     Motor vehicles, including motorcycles, cannot be allowed on the bridge, which is sagging because of damage to trusses.
     Bridge contractor KLM Construction continues to stabilize damaged trusses, the DOT said.
     One of the biggest challenges is replacement of a diagonal member that was severely bent in the crash and which is still carrying half the load of the bridge. The contractor has fabricated temporary supports so the damaged member can be replaced.
     "Once those are in place, they'll cut the damaged truss and attempt to splice in a new section that theyíre making," Bain said.
     A crane and barges may have to be brought in to accomplish the permanent repairs.
     "We'll keep working seven days a week until itís done," he said.
     The DOT also will try to accommodate the 150 bicyclists who would use the route across the Beebe bridge for the Sept. 26 Dam 2 Dam bike tour if the bridge remains closed then.