Vantage Bridge construction, lane closures resume: WSDOT
Columbia River span reduced to one lane each way with 9-foot width restriction.
VANTAGE — Work to replace decking material on the Interstate 90 Vantage Bridge has resumed for a third construction season, announced the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Officials say traffic on the Columbia River span is now reduced from two to one lane in each direction with reduced speeds and a 9-foot width restriction in effect. The only exceptions will be on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day holiday weekends when all four lanes of the bridge will be open.
Travelers will likely experience long delays as traffic volumes increase during the warmer months and during events at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Grant County. Historically, the longest delays occur eastbound on Fridays and westbound on Sundays.
To avoid congestion, DOT encourages taking alternate routes. Drivers may choose to use detours via Wenatchee or the Tri-Cities to bypass the construction area. The Vantage Highway in Kittitas County is not a recommended detour due to limited road capacity, the agency said.
The $79 million project is primarily funded by federal dollars. Construction began in 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2028, with work paused during winter months.
Built in 1962, the bridge received its last major overhaul 45 years ago. Since 2019, DOT has discovered a dozen through-deck holes that required lane closures and emergency repairs costing over a half-million dollars.
