06/20/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/20/2023 11:15
LONGVIEW - Travelers using State Route 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting Longview and Rainier, Oregon will need to plan ahead, expect extra congestion during nighttime commutes and prepare for a lengthy detour as this five-week repair project begins next week.
On Monday, June 26, Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews from Combined Construction, Inc. will begin the long-awaited project to replace two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam. Each evening one lane will be closed, and flaggers will alternate across the bridge one direction at a time.
At 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16 the Lewis and Clark Bridge will close to vehicle traffic for up to eight days. The bridge must be closed to ensure a long-lasting repair and for the safety of travelers and construction crews in the work zone. To set the new expansion joints in place, crews will pour concrete which needs four days to cure and strengthen, without movement and disturbance from moving traffic. The replacement of the floor beam also requires there be no traffic on the bridge. Pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency responders will be able to cross the bridge during the closure except during a 10-hour window when the floor beam is being replaced.
"Safety is our number one priority during the closure of this critical bridge, for travelers, construction crews and those who need access across the river for life-saving medical care," said WSDOT Southwest Region Administrator Carley Francis. "We are asking the public to avoid use of the low-capacity ferry in order to prioritize its use for first responders, healthcare workers and patients needing medical care who can't wait."
The closure of Lewis and Clark Bridge for up to eight days begins at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.
During the closure, all traffic crossing the Columbia River will detour to either the US 101 Astoria-Megler Bridge between Megler, Washington and Astoria, Oregon, or the Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
The Wahkiakum County Ferry between Cathlamet, Washington and Westport, Oregon will run twice an hour 24 hours a day while the bridge is closed. This ferry has extremely limited capacity. Its use should be reserved for urgent matters that do not require an ambulance. A priority lane will be established and enforced to accommodate ambulances and first responders on return trips from the hospital in Longview; healthcare and first responder commutes to work; and medical needs like chemotherapy or other critical but non-emergency medical appointments. All other travelers should expect hours of lengthy wait times and long lines.
Depending on where people begin and end their travel, using the detour routes can add upwards of two and a half hours of travel time. People who use the SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to access scheduled medical services should plan their travel time with this in mind and contact their providers to confirm or reschedule their appointments.
The five-week construction schedule of nighttime lane closures and a bridge closure shortens the construction timeline for this approximately $1.4 million preservation project. It also avoids months of daytime single lane closures that would create congestion throughout southwest Washington and northwest Oregon.
On April 12, bridge inspectors discovered a fractured floor beam resulting in an emergency 12-hour closure. Prior to that discovery, the bridge was scheduled to close for up to six days for expansion joint replacement work. The closure has been extended to accommodate the additional work of installing a new floor beam.
The traveling public can stay up-to-date on bridge repair news and closure dates may subscribe to email alerts for this project.