New weight restrictions for SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge

CARBONADO - Washington State Department of Transportation bridge engineers have determined no vehicles over 16,000 pounds (8 tons) are allowed to cross the State Route 165 Carbon River Bridge until further notice.

The updated restriction was prompted following inspections of the bridge revealed deterioration of steel supports on the 103-year-old bridge.

In the coming weeks, WSDOT will install new weight restriction signs on the bridge and on SR 165 leading to the bridge. The single-lane bridge, which is also known as the Fairfax Bridge, is located at milepost 11.5, three miles south of Carbonado in Pierce County. No detour is available. This is the third restriction imposed on the bridge since 2009. In 2013, commercial vehicles were restricted from crossing the bridge.

People are encouraged to find their vehicle's weight by checking the owner's manual or vehicle registration before crossing the bridge. The Department of Licensing has a partial list of fee-based vehicle scales in the state.

Next steps

WSDOT signed an emergency declaration to help expedite work for an emergency detour route for first responders and local property owners. The agency is working with private owners to gain access for this work to occur.

The bridge provides access to residents south of Carbonado. It also provides access to Mount Rainier National Park's Mowich Lake Entrance and Carbon River Ranger Station and other outdoor recreation areas.

The 494-foot-long bridge opened to travelers in 1921. A bridge is expected to have a service life of 75 years based on current standards. The average age of state-owned vehicular bridges is 51 years. The Carbon River Bridge is 103 years old.

There is no funding available to replace the bridge. Years of deferred preservation work due to limited preservation funding resulted in the updated weight restrictions.

WSDOT's bridge inspection program regularly monitors the conditions of all the state's approximate 3,600 bridges.

To get the latest information about road work on state highways in Pierce County, sign up for email updates. Real-time travel information is available on the WSDOT app and statewide travel map.

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