Travelers will follow a signed detour during SR 14 closures
VANCOUVER – For nearly 19 months, the Lieser Road overpass above State Route 14 in Vancouver has had shoulder closures in place, preventing access for those who walk, bike or use mobility devices – but these restrictions will soon come to an end.
Starting Friday, March 8, Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews will close the overpass and the eastbound lanes of SR 14 for three days. This will allow crews to begin repairing the bridge support structure that was damaged by an oversized load on July 7, 2022.
"Each bridge repair project we do is unique and requires careful coordination to get it right," said Project Engineer Mike Briggs. “To ensure everyone’s safety during demolition and girder setting, all eastbound lanes of SR 14 and the bridge will fully close over the weekend, starting March 8."
Lane closure information
Travelers should prepare for:
- An extended weekend-long closure of all eastbound SR 14 and Lieser Road overpass travel lanes from Friday, March 8, through Monday, March 11. The lanes will reopen the morning of Monday, March 11.
- Nighttime, intermittent single lane closures on eastbound SR 14 at the Lieser Road overpass.
- Lieser Road overpass travel lanes reduced to two narrow lanes or even one northbound travel lane for extended durations, as well as intermittent single lane closures.
Travelers should plan for delays through the work zone. Specific lane closure and detour information will be available on our real-time travel map.
Project specifics
This project will repair six girders on the southern span and replace one girder on the east end of the southern span over eastbound SR 14. Girders, sometimes referred to as beams, are a main structural component of a bridge that provides vertical support for the bridge deck. Additionally, the guardrail on the southeast corner of the bridge will be replaced to meet current height and safety requirements.
To safely replace the damaged concrete bridge girder over SR 14 traffic, both the overpass and eastbound lanes of the highway will be fully closed. During the closures, travelers on eastbound SR 14 will detour to use Exit 4 for Lieser Road and rejoin eastbound SR 14 at the Lieser Road on-ramp.
Once construction is complete, this $2.2 million project will ensure safe access for all travelers across the entire overpass, including designated shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also restore this vital connection for travelers who use SR 14 to access Interstates 5 and 205. Work is scheduled to wrap up by late summer 2024 and is being completed by Tapani, Inc. as project contractor.
As with any highway maintenance and construction project, travelers must use caution through the work zone. To keep both road users and road workers safe, travelers are asked to have patience, stay alert and follow all warning signs and directions.