Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers hear urgent testimony as bill would give WSDOT emergency authority to replace Fairfax Bridge
Summary
Local leaders, emergency responders and trail groups urged expedited replacement of the Fairfax Bridge, while WSDOT cautioned that federal environmental and historic-preservation reviews will largely dictate the timeline; staff estimated replacement at roughly $160 million.
A bill that would declare an emergency for the permanent failure of the Fairfax Bridge and give the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) expanded authority to expedite replacement drew broad community testimony and sharp questions from the Transportation Committee.
Sponsor Representative Andrew Barkas told the committee the closure of State Route 165 and the Fairfax Bridge “has severed access” to Mount Rainier and left hundreds of residents isolated. ‘‘This is an emergency,’’ Barkas said, describing a 4x4 drive on a logging bypass road and meetings with elderly residents who depend on restored access.
Mayors, local residents and business owners told personal stories of being cut off; Mayor Jamie Pololi of Wilkerson said inspection records showed ‘‘advanced corrosion, structural…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
