Expect major delays: Lanes closing on Tacoma Narrows Bridge for extensive repairs
Oct 23, 2026, 7:49 AM
Tacoma Narrows Bridge. (Photo courtesy of WSDOT via KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of WSDOT via KIRO 7)
Major lane closures are coming to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, starting this weekend.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said this is going to cause serious delays over the next two weeks.
WSDOT is asking people to skip any unnecessary trips between Tacoma and Gig Harbor if possible.
The right two westbound lanes will close around 5 a.m. Saturday and will remain closed through Nov. 8.
The closure is so WSDOT can do more extensive work on some of the expansion joints.
Crews have been battling with emergency temporary repair options on the 76-year-old bridge for a long time.
In April, KIRO 7 News reported that four joints on the bridge have required at least eight emergency repairs since 2024.
WSDOT tells us their short-term spot fixes are no longer working the way they need them to.
The Jackson Avenue ramp onto SR 16 will also close.
However, the HOV lane will be open for anyone to use during this time to help ease traffic.
Officials said side streets near and approaching the bridge are expected to be heavily congested during this time.
“If you don’t take care of things right on a regular basis, then it deteriorates, and you can get into a situation where you have to replace it,” State Rep. Jake Fey, chair of the House Transportation Committee, told KIRO 7 News in April. “When we asked about what the needs were, they identified over $180 million worth of work.”
According to WSDOT, roughly 45,000 drivers use the westbound bridge each day traveling from Tacoma to Gig Harbor.
