According to The Seattle Times, the Washington State Department of Transportation has indefinitely closed the 103-year-old Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge on SR-165 after inspectors discovered its steel support columns bending in two directions and beginning to buckle.
Background
The single-lane, 494-foot-long span—located near milepost 11.5, about three miles south of Carbonado—first opened in 1921. It provided the only direct public route to Mount Rainier National Park’s northwest Carbon River corridor, serving destinations such as Mowich Lake, Spray Park, the Carbon Glacier Trail and Tolmie Peak.
Impact on Recreation and Access
Closed since April 14, the bridge’s shutdown effectively cuts off recreational access to one of the park’s quieter areas. With no public detour available—WSDOT’s nine-mile emergency route is reserved for first responders and local property owners—day-visitors now must reroute via Paradise or Sunrise, adding significant travel time and potentially requiring overnight stays to reach the Carbon River entrance.
Exploring Long-Term Solutions
Faced with no current funding to rebuild, WSDOT is evaluating three options:
- Maintain the indefinite closure without replacement.
- Construct a new bridge on the existing alignment.
- Reroute SR-165 along a new alignment to the east or west of the Carbon River Canyon.
An in-person and online open house will be held after Memorial Day to gather public feedback on these proposals; exact dates will be announced by WSDOT.
Aging Infrastructure Challenges
This closure highlights broader statewide concerns over aging bridges. A June 2024 WSDOT report found that nearly 23 percent more steel on state-owned bridges was due or past due for painting—a key preservation activity—than in 2023. Deferred maintenance and limited funding have already led to weight restrictions on several spans, and now to the indefinite closure of this critical gateway into Mount Rainier National Park.
Source: The Seattle Times
No reviews yet. Be the first to review!
Did you like this article? Provide a rating.