Highway bridge over Puyallup River closed ‘immediately’ to traffic after deemed unsafe
The Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge in Tacoma has been closed to traffic effective Friday after the Federal Highway Administration recommended its immediate closure to all vehicle traffic as a safety measure.
Formerly called the Puyallup River Bridge, the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge links Tacoma to the city of Fife to the east, connecting Puyallup Avenue to Pacific Highway.
It will remain closed to all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic until a complete inspection is conducted, all its steel structures have been cleaned of dirt and debris, an inspection analysis is complete and the load rating is updated, if required, according to the highway administration.
The current 1920s era bridge served as a vital component of Tacoma’s freight network, but wasn’t designed for today’s commercial truck traffic, and as a result has been subject to significant load restrictions, according to the City of Tacoma.
Sections of the original bridge are deteriorating and will need further load restrictions and more maintenance unless it is replaced, according to the city.
Phase 2 of a project to replace the 2,400-foot bridge is currently underway. If the city can receive requested grants, planning and preliminary design will begin in 2024. Construction phasing is dependent on funding, which does not currently have a timeline, according to the city.
This story was originally published October 21, 2023 at 9:48 AM.
