DOT further restricts heavy vehicles on Fairfax bridge

The new 16,000 pound limit shouldn’t affect most drivers, but motorhomes may have an issue.

By Kevin Hanson • August 15, 2024 10:00 am
Photo by Ben Cody The Fairfax bridge outside Carbonado is more than a century old.
Photo by Ben Cody The Fairfax bridge outside Carbonado is more than a century old.

The Washington State Department of Transportation have set new weight restrictions for the Fairfax bridge past Carbonado.

Engineers fromWSDOT have determined no vehicles over 16,000 pounds (or eight tons) are allowed to cross the Carbon River Bridge (as it’s called in DOT circles) until further notice.

That means no change in access for those in traditional cars and pickups (even the heavy-duty versions). Things could be problematic, however, for those driving larger recreational vehicles like a Class A motorhome, which can tip the scales beyond the DOT maximum.

People are encouraged to find their vehicle’s weight by checking the owner’s manual or vehicle registration before crossing the bridge.

A BRIDGE TO NATURAL BEAUTY

Aside from providing access to residents south of Carbonado, the Fairfax Bridge is the single link to Mount Rainier National Park’s Mowich Lake entrance, the Carbon River Ranger Station and points beyond. Driving past the Carbon River station takes visitors to a popular trail leading to the Ipsut Creek Campground, a steep uphill climb to an abandoned mine, Chenuis Falls Trail, the Green Lake Trail and the longer Carbon Glacier Trail.

Taking the largely unpaved trail to Mowich Lake opens guests to Tolmie Peak and Spray Park.

WHY THE RESTRICTION?

The updated restriction on the Fairfax Bridge – which is a link on state Route 165 spanning the Carbon River – was prompted after inspections revealed deterioration of steel supports on the 103-year-old structure.

A DOT press release has noted that the agency will install new weight restriction signs on the bridge and on SR 165 leading to the bridge.

The single-lane bridge is located at milepost 11.5, three miles south of Carbonado.

This is the third restriction imposed on the bridge since 2009. In 2013, commercial vehicles were restricted from crossing the bridge.

BRIDGE HISTORY

The 494-foot-long bridge opened to travelers in 1921 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Until the bridge was built, followed by roads, access to and from the historic mining town of Fairfax was by train.

According to WSDOT, a bridge is expected to have a service life of 75 years based on current standards. The average age of state-owned vehicular bridges is 51 years. The Carbon River Bridge is 103 years old.

There is no funding available to replace the bridge, according to WSDOT. Years of deferred preservation work due to limited preservation funding resulted in the updated weight restrictions.

WSDOT’s bridge inspection program regularly monitors the condition of all the state’s approximate 3,600 bridges.