Too tight a squeeze

Traffic backs up behind a heavy equipment hauler on the Columbia River Bridge in Coulee Dam Monday night while a driver figures out how to get a too-tall piece of equipment low enough to pass under the horizontal spans of steel across the bridge. The trailer's air suspension equipment was lowered, allowing enough space to back up a few feet, then unfold and lower the equipment's boom until the truck could be driven off the bridge. It was the second time within 10 or so years that such equipment didn't fit, the last time requiring expensive repairs. Traffic was stopped at least a half hour Monday night, including fire engines needing to respond to fires near Nespelem. They were allowed to drive across Grand Coulee Dam, which is normally closed. - Scott Hunter photo