The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

No pedestrian, bicycle or ambulance access for 10-hour window of closure

Travelers using State Route 433 between Longview and Rainier, Oregon, will need to plan ahead and prepare for a lengthy detour during an up-to-eight-day closure of the Lewis and Clark Bridge.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16, Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews from Combined Construction, Inc. closed the bridge to motor vehicle traffic to replace two expansion joints and a fractured floor beam.

The bridge must be closed to ensure a long-lasting repair and for the safety of travelers and construction crews in the work zone. The re-opening of the bridge will occur when the work is complete but will not exceed eight days. Travelers can be the first to learn about when it will reopen by subscribing to email alerts for this project.

“We are grateful for everyone’s patience while our contractor works to complete these critical repairs as safely and quickly as possible,” said WSDOT Southwest Region Administrator Carley Francis. “This closure will bring challenges for communities on both sides of the river. We thank everyone in advance for their understanding whether they are postponing trips, using detours or waiting for the ferry.”

Ambulances, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross the bridge during the closure.

There are no park and ride facilities on either side of the bridge.

Using the detour routes can add upwards of two and a half hours of travel time. People who use the Lewis and Clark Bridge for scheduled medical services should plan their travel time with this in mind and contact their providers to confirm or reschedule their appointments.

During the closure, all vehicle traffic crossing the Columbia River will detour to either the US 101 Astoria-Megler Bridge or the Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver and Portland.

The Wahkiakum County Ferry between Cathlamet 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 set up and enforced to accommodate travelers with non-emergency medical needs, as well as first responders and healthcare workers. All other travelers should prepare for long lines and hours of lengthy wait times and long lines. Priority ferry travelers should bring a badge or documentation of their medical appointment, if possible.