SR 165 Carbon River Bridge highlights preservation challenges in our state

By Cara Mitchell

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.

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.

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.