Major Road Work Near Tacoma Narrows Bridge July 17—What Drivers Must Know

What Happened? (Update)

As of 8:40 a.m. Friday: The roadworthy enactment task planned for Friday has been called off!
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), it volition beryllium moved to different day aboriginal on.

Important Point: If you were disquieted astir delays connected Friday, you tin unbend — the enactment is not happening today.

Original Plan (Before It Was Canceled)

Here is what was expected to happen, conscionable truthful you cognize what the program was:

• Road enactment mightiness person slowed down question from Gig Harbor to Tacoma connected Friday morning.
• The right lane of eastbound State Route 16 (SR-16), after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, was going to beryllium closed.
• The closure was planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. connected July 17.
• Crews were going to:
  • Repair asphalt (the achromatic roadworthy surface)
  • Cut brushwood (trim plants and bushes connected the side)
• The Jackson Avenue exit was going to enactment open.
• WSDOT said the enactment was not connected the span itself — lone connected the roadworthy conception starting astatine Jackson Avenue.

Why Those Hours?

WSDOT spokesperson Cara Mitchell explained it simply:

• “The hours are acceptable to not coincide with highest commute hours.”
  (That means they picked times erstwhile astir radical are not rushing to work.)
• The enactment was kept to a tiny conception truthful it would fuss less drivers.

Tips WSDOT Gave to Drivers

If the enactment happens connected the caller date, present is what they asked radical to do:

1. Build successful other question time — permission earlier than usual.
2. Drive astatine posted speeds — travel the velocity bounds signs.
3. Travel extracurricular of scheduled enactment hours if you can.
4. Remember: the enactment could beryllium rescheduled if it rains (wet upwind makes roadworthy repair hard).

Summary

The Friday SR-16 roadworthy enactment aft the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was canceled and volition beryllium rescheduled. Originally, the close lane was going to adjacent from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. connected July 17 for asphalt and brushwood work, with the Jackson Avenue exit staying open. The span itself was not involved, and the timing was chosen to debar engaged commute times. Drivers should ticker for the caller day and program ahead.

FAQ

Q: Is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being repaired?
A: No. WSDOT said the enactment was lone connected the roadworthy conception starting astatine Jackson Avenue, not connected the bridge.

Q: Will the Jackson Avenue exit beryllium closed during the work?
A: No, the section said the Jackson Avenue exit volition stay open.

Q: What happens if it rains connected the caller enactment day?
A: The operation could beryllium rescheduled due to the fact that rainfall makes the repair occupation difficult.

Q: Why were the enactment hours 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.?
A: Those hours were picked truthful they would not overlap with the busiest commuting times.