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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 Secretary Julie Meredith and others on the stage described preservation needs across the state and noted roughly 3,400 bridges statewide require attention, though the agency said the struck bridge’s deck and substructure remain in relatively good condition.
The governor said he has been working with WSDOT leadership and legislative partners and that his forthcoming budget will place a greater emphasis on maintaining existing assets, not only new projects. "What you'll be seeing for me... is a greater focus on our existing infrastructure," Ferguson said, adding that the state must balance dollars between new projects and preservation.
When asked about help for affected local businesses, Ferguson said state officials will continue direct outreach and that he planned to visit businesses after the briefing to hear ideas on targeted assistance; no new state relief program was announced at the event.
Local leaders at the briefing — including Buckley’s mayor and King County officials — expressed appreciation for the state response and signaled willingness to help coordinate local mitigation and support during repair operations.
The governor’s comments position infrastructure preservation as a near‑term budget priority and link the immediate emergency response to longer‑term policy choices about maintaining the state's aging transportation network.
