Simpson Avenue Bridge to Close Temporarily for Inspection

Annual inspections close the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, May 23-25.

During the inspections, drivers will be rerouted onto the nearby Riverside Bridge, which will be reconfigured to accommodate two-way traffic.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) inspects the 84-year-old bridge annually.

This marks the first inspection since the bridge reopened in Jan. to traffic after a 10-week closure.

That closure was put into place after WSDOT maintenance crews noticed some unusual movement of the bridge which prompted engineers and divers to conduct underwater inspections. Those inspections revealed severe degradation to the most easterly pier of the bridge, and engineers determined it was not safe for vehicles to cross.

During the closure, crews repaired the pier so traffic could once again safely cross the bridge.

The US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge carries 15,000 vehicles a day over the Hoquiam River.