Immediate Weight Restrictions on SR 165 Carbon River Bridge Impact Emergency Vehicles

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge crews have determined that effective immediately, no commercial vehicles will be allowed to cross the State Route 165 Carbon River Bridge until further notice. 

This includes fire trucks, according to East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

"The bridge over the Carbon River on SR 165 is closed to ALL large vehicles, including our fire vehicles as of now," East Pierce Fire and Rescue posted on its official Facebook Page. "EPFR's Operations Chief met with the WSDOT to discuss the situation today. Our crews have a contingency plan in place right now as this is the only way for us to access about 40 different homes up near Evans Creek and the entrance to Mt Rainier National Park. Stay tuned for more info."

The restriction was prompted by the discovery late this afternoon that one of the four vertical legs supporting the bridge’s approach span has loosened from its concrete footing. 

WSDOT bridge crews are en route to the bridge to examine the support and determine what repairs will be necessary before the restriction can be lifted.  WSDOT crews will staff each end of the one-lane bridge overnight to ensure that only passenger vehicles cross the bridge. 

About 40 residents live between the bridge and the boundary to Mount Rainier National Park.  The single-lane bridge is located at milepost 11.5, three miles south of Carbonado in Pierce County.  Aside from privately-owned logging roads, no detour is available for commercial vehicles.