Governor Ferguson announces historic transportation infrastructure investments to preserve, maintain state’s roads and bridges
Supplemental budget proposal includes $2.1 billion to keep Washington moving; it’s the largest investment of its kind in any enacted budget in 20 years
 Watch the full press conference here.
LACEY – Today Governor Bob Ferguson announced $2.1 billion in transportation infrastructure investments for preservation and maintenance of roads and bridges across Washington state without raising taxes. If approved by the Legislature, it would be the largest investment in preservation in any enacted budget of the past 20 years.
Specifically, the proposal includes $1.1 billion dedicated to preserving Washington’s bridges, $164 million for paving projects this summer, and an additional $756 million for paving projects over the next 10 years. Additionally, the budget proposal includes $160 million for other infrastructure projects, including slope control in Washington’s mountain passes and other places that are vulnerable to landslides.
This funding can also be used to help Washington recover from recent severe storms.
The $2.1 billion in funding over the next decade represents a 34 percent increase in preservation funding.
“Painting a bridge or sealing a road may not seem very exciting, but it's like changing the oil in your car or replacing the timing belt,” Ferguson said. “If you skip that basic maintenance, you could have a catastrophic failure and pay more down the line. That is what these funds are working to avoid. The recent historic flooding underscores how critical this investment is. Taking care of our roads and bridges is good for individuals, communities and our economy.”
Deterioration that happens when we delay maintenance and preservation work leads to costly reconstruction or replacement, which can be three to five times more expensive than timely resurfacing or rehabilitation.
This deferred maintenance and preservation risks shutting down critical transportation corridors, which impacts individuals, communities and our economy. For example, earlier this year the state permanently closed the 103-year-old Carbon River Bridge, causing ripple effects for businesses and families in nearby communities.
Other examples of statewide preservation and maintenance needs include:
- Statewide, 342 bridges are 80 years old or older — the typical lifespan of a bridge.
- Of those bridges, 80 are in “poor” condition, the lowest of the three ratings that WSDOT uses to assess bridges. This means they have serious deficiencies such as deterioration, cracking or even damage to the primary structure.
- Right now, 45 steel bridges are due for painting and 60 are past due. Combined with structural repairs, timely painting of a bridge can protect the steel for 30 to 40 years, and help stave off premature failure.
- Some of the maintenance needs for the 64-year-old Hood Canal Bridge, which connects Jefferson and Kitsap counties, are nearly 15 years overdue. If this bridge closed for emergency repairs, drivers would have to take a three-hour detour around the canal.
- The 75-year-old Tacoma Narrows Bridge has close lanes seven times between January 2024 and September 2025 for repairs, for work on old bridge joints.
- The 63-year-old Beebe Bridge near Chelan needs painting and deck rehabilitation. That work is at least a decade overdue. The paint is 39 years old. Closing this bridge would cause an 83-mile detour for the community.
Ferguson’s proposal, which will be funded without any new taxes, can help address needs like these. The investment will be paid for by bonding existing revenues that were passed on a bipartisan vote last legislative session.
More photos are available here: https://ofmwagov.app.box.com/s/f4c97rqqbkgris8h6exwj2n5fwhvjovd
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