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Washington State Department of Transportation
Olympic Region – P.O. Box 47440 – Olympia, WA 98504-7440 – 360-357-2600
TRAVEL ADVISORY
April 29, 2026
UPDATE: Please note the lane closures are now scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 3. The change is reflected in the advisory below.
Happening Sunday, May 3: westbound SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge reduced to two lanes
TACOMA – Travelers who use westbound State Route 16 from Tacoma to Gig Harbor will want to plan additional travel time.
Starting 7:30 a.m. Sunday, May 3, two left lanes of westbound SR 16 will close from Pearl Street, across the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, to Gig Harbor.
The closure creates a work zone for Washington State Department of Transportation crews to make repairs. Bridge crews will complete joint repairs on the bridge while road crews repair the left lanes of the highway leading up to the bridge.
Lane closures will remain in place until work is complete. Crews expect repairs to be completed before the afternoon commute Monday, May 4. During the work, the two right lanes will remain open. The Jackson Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 16 will also remain open. WSDOT will provide updates if there are changes to the work schedule.
Background
On Wednesday, April 22, inspectors discovered deterioration on a finger expansion joint underneath the bridge deck. Further inspection prompted state and region bridge crews to close two right lanes across the bridge until the afternoon of Friday, April 24 for emergency repairs.
During the work, inspectors found additional areas on the same joint under the left lanes in need of more long-term repairs. This work will occur during Sunday’s left lane closures.
The westbound 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge had three emergency repairs in 2025 and five emergency repairs in 2024, all centered around bridge joints. WSDOT shared a blog about some of these challenges in 2024.
Whenever near work zones please:
- Slow down – drive the posted speeds, they're there for everyone’s safety.
- Be kind – workers are out there helping to keep everyone safe and improve the roadways.
- Pay attention – both to workers directing traffic and to fellow travelers.
- Stay calm – expect delays, leave early or take alternate routes if possible.
Travelers are encouraged to sign up for email updates about work on WSDOT roads in Pierce County. Real-time traveler information is available from the WSDOT app and WSDOT Travel Center Map.
Hyperlinks within the release:
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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real-time traffic information is available at wsdot.com/traffic.
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