The White River Bridge between Enumclaw and Buckley in Washington is back open, reopening on the morning of October 17 after being shut down for almost two months. The bridge was closed August 18 after a semi truck crashed into it, damaging the structure.

The details: The bridge usually carries over 22,000 vehicles every day. Its closure forced drivers to take long detours, adding almost an hour to their trips.

• Crews worked seven days a week to repair the bridge, speeding up the timeline.
• Officials had first predicted the bridge would reopen between October 31 and November 15, but construction wrapped up much sooner.
• Final inspections were set for October 17, with the barricades coming down around 10:30 a.m., reported KING5.
• The governor declared an emergency, which lets the state look for federal help to cover repair costs.

Businesses near the bridge had a tough time during the closure. Wally's Drive-In operations manager Kimarie Johnson said, "I'm probably going to cry... of happiness," now that regular traffic is coming back.

The bridge is officially open as of midday October 17, bringing an end to long detours and restoring a key connection for drivers in the area.