Community Transportation

Narrows Bridge lanes will be closed over Father’s Day weekend

Two lanes of the westbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge will close for repairs over Father’s Day weekend, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced Monday.

The two right lanes of the 1950-built bridge will close at 4 a.m. Saturday, June 15 and reopen at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16. The ramp from Jackson Avenue in Tacoma to westbound Highway 16 also will close.

“While these lane closures will occur during Father’s Day weekend, the work must be done at that time to keep the bridge in good working order,” according to a WSDOT news release.

WSDOT found cracks in a bridge joint during a recent inspection. It’s a different joint than the one that forced weekday lane closures in May. Those closures caused lengthy traffic backups during commuter hours.

Crews will repair the expansion joint, then pour new concrete. While the concrete sets up, drivers will see “little or no activity in the work zone,” WSDOT noted.

The WSDOT release said the bridge remains safe for travel. HOV lanes will be open to all drivers during the closure.