By Cara Mitchell
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| The Carbon River Bridge on State Route 165 is also called the Fairfax Bridge. |
It's a sign of the times. On Friday, July 26, our state bridge engineers had to further limit the types of vehicles that can use the 103-year-old Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge in Pierce County.
The new weight limit is 8 tons, or 16,000 pounds. Anything over that weight limit can no longer cross the bridge. This is the third restriction we've had to place on the bridge since 2009. In 2013, commercial vehicles were restricted crossing the bridge.
We know the latest restriction is especially tough for people who live south of the bridge. There is no detour available. We are working with private property owners and signed an emergency declaration with the hopes we can create an emergency detour access route for locals and first responders.
What changed on the bridge
The 494-foot-long bridge has been inspected every two years by state bridge engineers. This spring, engineers rappelled down the side of the bridge to measure the condition of the bridge's steel components. They used this data to calculate the revised load rating.
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| Photos from 2022 and 2024 show the advancing deterioration of steel sections of the bridge. |
The center portion of the bridge is built out of steel, while the bridge approaches are timber. Steel deteriorates over time as it's exposed to rain or snow. Water on steel over time forms rust, which weakens the steel. We combat rust on bridges by painting them. The last time the bridge was painted was in 1988. Since then, we have repeatedly recommended this bridge as a candidate for replacement due to its overall condition and age. In 2023, it was removed as a candidate for replacement due to funding constraints.
As of June 2023, 55 steel bridges were due for painting, 47 were past due and six were being painted. Decades of underfunding maintenance and preservation has resulted in a backlog of work needed keep our transportation system in full operation. We do our best with the funding we are given by the Legislature. We continue to work with state leaders to communicate our needs and the risks associated with those needs being unmet.
Will the bridge be replaced
Deferred preservation has been an ongoing issue for years. Prior budgets passed by the Legislature have not provided funding to replace or make repairs to the bridge, and the SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is now a tangible example of a much larger issue in our state. Without more investment in preservation, we will continue to see more bridges weight listed, longer detours (where applicable) in place and highways with "rough road ahead" signs.
The bridge is competing with other aging bridges across the state. As of June 2023, 315 of our 3,384 bridges were 80 years old or older, accounting for 9.3% of all state-owned bridges. Factors such as traffic volumes play into which bridge rises to the top of the list for replacement.
Our bridge maintenance teams have done their best to keep the bridge in good working order. As an example, we replaced sections of a failing wooden bridge deck last May.
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| Olympic Region bridge maintenance crew members replacing aging wood bridge deck panels on the bridge on May 16, 2024 |
Because of the new load rating, our crews will increase the frequency of inspections on the bridge to every six to 12 months.
We know there are some who will say, "the Brooklyn Bridge is even older and it's still open." This is true. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to keep that historic bridge in good working order. That hasn't happened in Washington state.
Typically, a bridge has a service life of 75 years, based on current standards. In Washington, the average age of state-owned vehicle bridges is 51 years. At age 103, our Carbon River Bridge has held up well. That's in large part because of dedicated bridge engineers who routinely inspect the bridge and bridge maintenance crews who make repairs. The bridge was built in 1921 for $500,000. According to History Link, it was the tallest bridge at the time in the state. Over 100 years later, there are very few highway construction projects, let alone a bridge, that cost $500,000. For instance, we just opened a new bridge in Clallam County that replaced another almost 100-year-old bridge to the tune of $42 million.
New signs and changes to intersections: What travelers need to know
New weight limit signs for the bridge are on order and we are moving quickly to install them.
The bridge is in a rural area with little room to turn around so we're putting advanced warning signs on roads leading to it. You'll soon see signs on SR 165 leading up to the bridge from SR 162, Wilkeson and Carbonado. Those signs are meant to catch the attention of anyone who is driving anything over 8 tons before they get to the bridge.
We're also making some changes to the intersection of SR 165 and Pershing Avenue in Carbonado. The intersection will become an all-way stop. The same goes for the intersection of SR 165 (Mowich Lake Road) and Carbon River Road. The all-way stops will allow drivers another chance to stop, change direction, and make informed decisions prior to crossing the weight-restricted bridge.
What vehicle weighs 8 tons?
Knowing how much your vehicle or the load you're pulling weighs is always important.
- 1 US ton equals 2,000 lbs.
- 8 US tons equals 16,000 lbs.
The bridge is closed to any vehicles that exceeds the maximum weight limit of 16,000 lbs. (8 tons). Official vehicle weights might be found in your vehicle's manual or inside the driver's side front door. Some vehicle registrations will also include this information. There are also fee-based weigh stations that you can use to weigh your vehicle.
A quick Google search shows us that a 2024 Subaru Forester weighs around 3,528 pounds, empty. A Ford F-150 has a curb weight up to 7,000 pounds. Full size RVs can range from 10,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds depending on make and model. Your mid-size SUV will likely be ok to cross the bridge, but better check the weight of the pickup or RV you're driving or pulling before you go. Keep in mind, drivers must add the weight of fluids, loads and people traveling in the vehicle to determine if the vehicle is over the gross weight restriction.
Stay informed
We will share more information with our community partners and property owners in the coming weeks. People can sign up to receive updates on the SR 165 Carbon River Bridge through GovDelivery.
Information line about the bridge is available at: (360) 704-3268
For real-time travel information, visit wsdot.wa.gov and search WSDOT Travel Map and WSDOT Mobile App.
9 comments:
You should post a clarification about RVs, specifically trailers. Are the trailers counted as a seperate vehicle or part of the overall weight.
As a seperate vehicle most 5th wheels and toy haulers could use the bridge.
If total weight, most 5th wheels and toy haulers cannot use the bridge.
Well last I checked 5th wheels can't drive themselves so 16k pounds would be total weight crossing at once.
Would be interested to know what the WSDOT cost estimate is to remove and replace
This has been enacted but I’ve already seen RV’s , trucks with large toy haulers, go across. Does Pierce county sheriff’s know about this? It would be nice to see them enforce this especially after 6:30 which is the latest I’ve seen them here. I’d like to see the local police , national park LE’s , and national forest LE’s have more jurisdiction since they can get here faster. There is heavy traffic to this area during summer months. There is a short bus ,which should be under the weight limit, with a limited load of children that will not be able to come up here ,from what I’m told. WHY?
There will be no snowplow, so I would suggest one be left somewhere beyond the bridge so the roads are safe. I’m sure one of the fire departments have a smaller ambulance that could cross. The biggest issue is large fire trucks. Do the emergency services have the code to get in the back way if need be? The detours have been in place in the past, with the logging companies opening the gate or giving the lock code to locals ,but locking access after 10:30pm. We are property owners in this area but have not heard directly from the DOT. I’m frustrated that everyone else will ignore the weight limit, yet there will be no fire trucks or ambulance’s allowed! Greater good of the community means logging roads may need to leave their gates open, if the bridge does close. Same goes for the one road access to Carbonado if that road is blocked. Locals need to know if EMS has an ambulance ACLS CAPABLE THAT CAN COME ACROSS THE bridge, and how far it will be coming from. If everything critical will be LiFe flight from this area? Possibly all locals should get gate keys regardless of payments to Hancock if they need to evacuate and bridge is closed. It should be done anyway since I was called in a fire below the Fairfax Bridge,the creosote wood, and was told it was not an emergency. We never know when there will be a road out and folks are stranded while logging companies hold the gate keys? Many folks can’t afford to pay for Hancock access and during an evacuation I don’t want to be grinding off a lock or even fiddling with a code or key . Locals have had to wait in the past to hear from the companies or EMS how to get out when the road was washed out because this wasn’t set up in the past. Absolutely insane , and poor planning. I’d love to hear who else I can contact to get this done. The recent logging done in the area left an utter mess with brush and trees piled up right to our property border ,so wildlfire danger has quadrupled. We tried to call and email the property owners and local authority agencies to no avail. The owners for that company were on the East Coast. I just don’t get why towns have no rights to alternate routes. The detours are there but access rights are not. I’ve sat on a road after working a 12 hour ER shift ,in the freezing cold, because a power line was down. The alternate routes are available so let’s have access , what if there was an Emergency? Oh well,town of Carbonado wait till they clear it orgo around the 11 mile detour in 2 feet of snow on an unmaintained road , which may or may not be open to get home or out off. Oh too late you’re dead! I did plow through snow that night after waiting hours for the main road to open at 5:30 AM since I had to go back to work the next day. Thinking to myself, this is insane a quicker road is available but the town has no rights to this road. We can do better, surely.
Would be great if you could post a map or link to a map with the specific location of the bridge. Seems logical to do this for any story like this.
Thanks for mentioning that. Here is the link on our statewide travel map for commercial vehicle services:
https://wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/?featuretype=restriction&featureid=B-WA-165-6
Thank you for adding the link to the map, it really helps when we're sharing information on our Community pages. I noticed that there are 3 Truck Restrictions shown on the map for SR 165, MP 11.93, one dated on 4/26/2010 with a 21,500lb axle limit. Are you able to remove this one? Some folks may be confused with the conflicting weight restrictions.
It would be nice if a traffic recording was set up when this
was enacted since I’ve seen violations and to have it during the summer with the increased traffic. An emergency plan needs to be in place as well. Other routes are available and the locals need better access. In the past we’ve had time restrictions or are fiddling with gate locks which no one should have to do in an emergency.
Hi There, I want to help restore the bridge. I'm looking to present to the preservation group and engineering about my plan. Can you help me navigate to the appropriate group(s)? Thanks in advance,
Steve
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