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Ferguson says state will prioritize bridge upkeep after Carbon River strike, flags 300+ aging bridges
Summary
Governor Bob Ferguson told reporters the Carbon River Bridge strike highlights a statewide maintenance backlog; he said more of his first budget will focus on preserving existing infrastructure after WSDOT reported about 3,400 bridges in various conditions and more than 300 past their 75‑year expected lifespan.
At a field briefing about emergency repairs to a struck truss bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw, Governor Bob Ferguson said the incident exposed a broader infrastructure maintenance challenge and promised to prioritize upkeep in upcoming budget proposals.
Ferguson told reporters that "we have over 300 bridges that are 75 years or older beyond their useful life,” a figure he used to illustrate the scale of the maintenance backlog. WSDOT…
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