Travelers will need to prepare for hours-long detours during overnight and around-the-clock closures at the US 101 Hoh River Bridge.
Project overview
During an inspection, Washington State Department of Transportation bridge engineers found cracks in a support beam and the steel members under the bridge. Both support the driving surface of the bridge. Both are designed to lighten the load on the 95-year-old structure. The bridge will require both near- and long-term extensive repairs before all lanes can reopen.
What to expect
To keep the bridge open to travelers, on July 14, 2026, WSDOT restricted traffic to a single lane across the center of the bridge. Temporary traffic signals at either end of the bridge are alternating traffic. The speed limit across the bridge is reduced to 25 mph.
From Monday, Sept. 14 to Tuesday, Sept. 22, each night from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., the US 101 Hoh River Bridge will close to all traffic. During the overnight closures, crews will install a work deck and containment system on the bridge that is needed to perform the repairs.
Extended weekend closures for three weekends
Once the scaffolding is in place, crews will close the bridge to traffic for up to six days in a row for three weeks to make the repairs. The 95-year-old bridge is not wide enough to create a work zone and keep one travel lane open. The closures are scheduled for the following dates:
- 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29
- 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 to noon Tuesday, Oct. 6
- 5 a.m. Thursday Oct. 8 to noon Tuesday, Oct. 13
After each six-day closure, the bridge will be inspected prior to reopening to single-lane alternating traffic.
Emergency responders will have pedestrian access across the bridge during the work, provided by the contractor. The pedestrian access is not open to the public.
The US 101 Hoh River was built in 1931 carries about 1,400 vehicles daily. Oversized loads have been restricted on the bridge since 2010.
It is one of hundreds of WSDOT-owned bridges that are at least 80 years old. A bridge is expected to have a service life of 80 years based on current standards. WSDOT bridges are inspected on a two-year cycle.