Major Pierce County highway to be partially closed for months after bridge hit
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Truck strike caused critical bridge damage, reducing SR 167 lanes near Pacific.
- WSDOT engineers assess repair designs; timeline for full reopening uncertain.
- State plans to pursue third-party reimbursement for infrastructure damages.
Two lanes of northbound State Route 167 will remain closed for at least several months at 3rd Avenue Southwest in Pacific after a tall commercial vehicle struck the bridge as it was crossing underneath, the Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed on Friday.
WSDOT spokesperson RB McKeon told The News Tribune that the Tuesday strike to the bridge caused “extensive damage to a critical” part of the bridge’s support system “to the point where it can no longer carry traffic in its normal pattern.”
Following inspection, WSDOT engineers determined that northbound SR 167 will be reduced from three lanes to one “until further notice” while they work on a repair design, McKeon said.
“Folks will be working through the weekend on that, and we’ll share more information about specific timelines when we have them. It’s always our goal to reopen lanes as soon as it’s safe to do so,” she said. “Right now, we’re evaluating several scenarios to see if we can restore two lanes of traffic on the bridge in advance of the permanent repairs. We just don’t know yet whether or not that’s possible.”
When asked about how much repairs to the bridge will cost and who will pay for them, McKeon said because WSDOT doesn’t know the repair plan at this point she could not provide a cost estimate.
“It is our customary practice to seek third-party damages when our infrastructure is damaged, and we’ll do that with this bridge strike,” she said. “WSDOT obviously understands the significant disruption this creates for travelers and communities that rely on State Route 167. We’re basically just focused on restoring that bridge as quickly as we can, as safely as we can, and we’ll continue to share updates as we have them.”
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM.
