SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge Finger Joint Replacement Project

Dec 18, 2023

**UPDATE** May 2, 2023 - SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to close Sunday, July 16 for up to eight days for critical preservation work.

In 2023, the Lewis and Clark Bridge, also known as the Rainier Bridge, will fully close for up to eight days as crews replace two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam. Steel expansion joints allow the structure to expand and contract with daily temperature variations. These two expansion joints have deteriorated and need to be replaced. This repair project will help preserve the bridge and extend its service life.During the closure, all vehicle traffic crossing The Columbia River will detour to use either the Astoria-Megler Bridge between Megler, WA and Astoria, OR, or the Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Pedestrians, bicyclists, those using wheelchairs/mobility scooters and emergency vehicles will be provided access across the bridge during the full closure.While construction is not scheduled to begin until June 2023, we are proactively planning for impacts to business, commuters, and freight haulers. The Lewis and Clark bridge is currently in working condition and safe for all travelers.

Construction will start the week of June 26, 2023 with nightly single lane closures beginning each evening at 8 p.m.

Plan for longer travel timesDuring the following times travelers should expect longer delays and congestion due to nighttime single lane closures:

While the heaviest impacts to travelers will occur during the full closure of the bridge, travelers should prepare for up to five weeks of traffic impacts.

During construction, expect longer delays and congestion whether you commute over the bridge or travel in the project area. The work zone will have reduced speed limits for the safety of travelers and the construction crew. Emergency vehicles – including only ambulances with active critical medical needs or law enforcement emergency response – can use the bridge during the closure except when crews install the new floor beam. The timing of this work will be communicated in advance.

Full closure for up to eight days

To replace these expansion joints and a fractured floor beam, the bridge must be fully closed to vehicle traffic for up to eight days to allow the concrete adjacent to the new expansion joints to fully cure. Pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency responders will be able to cross the bridge during the closure except during a small window when the floor beam is being replaced.

Nighttime single lane closures

Before and after the full bridge closure, there will be nightly single lane closures for additional joint work, project staging, and clean-up. This will leave only one lane open for both northbound and southbound traffic to share each evening.

Northbound and southbound traffic will take turns alternating through the single lane, waiting until the oncoming vehicle passes, before proceeding. Occasional daytime single lane closures may be needed but will be limited to reduce congestion throughout the region.

Medical access

Depending on where people begin and end their travel, using the detour routes can add upwards of two and a half hours of travel time. People who use the SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to access scheduled medical services should plan their travel time with this in mind and contact their providers to confirm or reschedule their appointments.

Ferry service

The Wahkiakum County ferry between Cathlamet, Washington 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. Travelers should also be prepared for lengthy wait times and long lines. Find more information about the Wahkiakum County Ferry here.

In 2023, The Lewis and Clark Bridge, which spans across The Columbia River between Washington and Oregon, will close for up to right days for bridge joint and floor beam replacement work.

In 2021, WSDOT bridge crews discovered that the bridge joints on either side of the bridge were in need of replacement. In order to do this work they determined that a full bridge closure was the best strategy to deliver this critically important preservation work for three reasons: increase safety, reduce traffic impacts and to ensure the quality of the repair. On April 12, 2023 bridge inspectors discovered a fractured floor beam resulting in an emergency 12-hour closure. Prior to that discovery, the bridge was scheduled to close for up to six days for expansion joint replacement work. The closure has been extended to accommodate the additional work of installing a new floor beam.

WSDOT evaluated the safety of the traveling public and construction crews in the work zone; the overall traffic impacts for businesses, freight, and the general public; and the quality and lifespan of the repair.

A full closure of the bridge will allow the concrete adjacent to the new expansion joints to fully cure, ensuring a high-quality repair that lasts for years to come. This will reduce the likelihood of the bridge needing unscheduled, emergency closures and repairs in the future.

Built in 1930, the Lewis and Clark Bridge is a cantilever bridge which measures 8,288 feet in length or 1.56 miles long, and was designed and constructed by Joseph Struss, the engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. At the time of construction, it was the longest cantilever bridge in the United States, spanning across The Columbia River, between Longview, WA and Rainier, OR. In 1982 the bridge was entered into the on the National Register of Historic Places, as the Longview Bridge.

Currently, the bridge serves over 20,000 vehicles per day, most of which are commercial freight vehicles, making it a vital connection route for interstate and local economies and communities.

Project construction is estimated to begin the week of June 26 and travelers should expect traffic delays or detours for approximately five weeks.

The closure of Lewis and Clark Bridge for up to eight days begins at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.

Although the Lewis and Clark Bridge is owned by WSDOT, the cost of bridge maintenance and preservation work is shared between WSDOT and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) equally.

July 2, 2022 - WSDOT: Lewis and Clark Bridge to close in 2023 for up to six days

Aug. 1, 2022 - WSDOT seeks input on six-day closure of the Lewis and Clark Bridge in 2023 for preservation work

Aug. 2, 2022 When should the Lewis and Clark Bridge close for repairs? Answer in this survey.

Aug. 3, 2022 El Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) busca aportes para definir el cierre durante seis días del puente Lewis y Clark en 2023 a fin de realizar trabajos de preservación

Aug. 3, 2022 WSDOT scheduling six-day closure of Rainier-Longview bridge

Aug. 3, 2022 Six-day closure of Lewis and Clark Bridge planned

Aug. 7, 2022 Needs 'Vital' Repairs: Lewis and Clark Bridge project

Feb. 21, 2023 Contract awarded for Lewis and Clark Bridge repairs

May 2, 2023 SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to close Sunday, July 16 for up to 8 days for critical preservation work

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For project questions, please reach out to:

WSDOT Southwest [email protected]

Si requiere la información en esta página en español, por favor contacte:

Pedro Reyes [email protected] 360-905-2076