Olympic Region Strategic Bridge Preservation 2022-23

The driving surface of bridges can show their age. The roadway begins to crack. Damage allows water to seep into the subsurface of the bridge deck which can create even more damage. 

To make repairs, crews create a work zone. A portion of the driving surface is closed. Crews remove and replace damaged areas of the bridge deck. The areas are repaired with new concrete. The process is weather-dependent and requires a curing time. This means closed lanes while the new concrete has time to harden. 

Construction is part of WSDOT’s effort to maximize the useful life of each bridge. Other bridge preservation work includes bridge seismic retrofits, bridge painting, and scour mitigation.