FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054
Federal Highway Administration Recommends
Closure of Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge Effective October 20
TACOMA, Wash. – The City of Tacoma has been notified that the Federal Highway Administration is recommending the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge be closed to all vehicular traffic immediately. This bridge will remain closed as a safety measure to all vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic until all non-redundant steel tension members and connections are cleaned of dirt and debris, a complete inspection is conducted, the inspection results are analyzed, and the load rating is updated if required.
All bridges are required to have a complete load rating based on their current condition. The most recent load rating for this bridge, conducted in 2019, cannot be considered a complete load rating due to the unknown condition of the non-redundant steel tension members and connections.
Updates on this work will be provided as they become available.
Community members with questions about work on the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge may contact Project Engineer Steve Carstens in the City's Public Works Department at scarstens@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5263.
The American Public Works Association recognized the City’s extensive work to replace the western-most span on the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge in 2019 with its 2020 Project of the Year award. Details are available here.
More information about the City’s Bridge Program is available here.
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