Provides for expedited permitting and contracting for state bridges identified as structurally deficient by the department of transportation. This impacts projects like the replacement of the Skagit River bridge span that collapsed recently.   Official Text and Analysis.

Modifies the intent section to reflect that the official name of the bridge over the Skagit River on Interstate 5 (I-5) is the Trooper Sean M. O'Connell Jr. Memorial Bridge. The exemption from the SEPA is limited to the repair or replacement of a structurally deficient state bridge that occurs within the existing right-of-way, unless necessary to meet current engineering standards or state or local environmental permit requirements. The repair or replacement also cannot add additional automobile lanes. The exemption from certain federally required environmental reporting is removed. The definition of structurally deficient is modified so that it is met by a bridge that is classified as poor under the state bridge condition rating system and is reported to the national bridge inventory as having a deck, superstructure, or substructure rating of below four in certain areas. The WSDOT may notify contractors of the availability of emergency contracting work that the contractor is not otherwise notified of through the existing methods of notification.