U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell on Friday announced $605 million in funding for bridge repairs in Washington state over five years through the recent bipartisan infrastructure law, and some bridges in Lewis and Thurston counties have been highlighted as in-need.
The Chehalis Riverside Bridge on state Route 6 and the Deschutes River Bridge on state Route 507 are just some of the many bridges that have been listed as having unfunded preservation needs in Washington state, according to a joint news release from the two lawmakers.
Of the 8,338 bridges in the state, more than 6,000 are in need of repair and about 416 have been classified as “structurally deficient.”
Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement the bipartisan funding means “less traffic and shorter, safer commutes for so many people across our state — all while creating jobs in every community. That is a huge deal for everyone in our state who uses our roads and bridges every day — and it’s just the beginning of how the bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve our daily lives and bolster our state’s economy.”
Cantwell echoed those statements.
“In Washington state, we know how vital bridges are to connecting communities and improving freight mobility, and we know how important it is they are properly maintained in order to keep people and goods moving,” Cantwell said. “With over 400 of Washington’s bridges classified as structurally deficient, I’m glad to see this $605 million in much-needed funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law going to Washington so we can improve our bridge infrastructure.”
