Washington State transportation officials have released a final planning study laying out what comes next for the permanently closed SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge near Carbonado — and the decision WSDOT is teeing up is stark: rebuild a bridge across the canyon, or remove the existing span and keep the highway closed south of Carbonado.

The bridge — a 494-foot-long, single-lane steel structure that opened in 1921 — was permanently closed to all vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on April 22, 2025, after inspections found new deterioration in key steel support members and a support column that was visibly bending and starting to buckle, according to WSDOT.

WSDOT’s latest news release, dated Jan. 8, 2026, says the agency has now published its final planning study report and is beginning preliminary design and environmental review.

Two alternatives moving forward

In the Jan. 8 update, WSDOT said it will begin work on preliminary design and environmental review for two alternatives:

  • Build a replacement bridge just north of the existing alignment.
  • Keep SR 165 closed and remove the Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge.

WSDOT said it has allocated about $7 million in preservation funding from the 2025–27 transportation budget for this next phase, which includes field work like surveys and geotechnical drilling to understand soil and rock conditions and determine foundation options.

What the timeline looks like

According to WSDOT, crews need six to 12 months to gather survey and soil/rock data, a timeline that depends in part on securing permits — including permits that may involve removing some trees in the scenic Carbon River Canyon so drilling can occur.

The larger clock is the environmental process. WSDOT says the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is expected to take about 24 months, with other agencies — including the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service, the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and Tribes — reviewing and commenting on the work. WSDOT says public comment opportunities will also be part of that review, with dates to be announced later.

After NEPA, WSDOT says additional work before construction — including property acquisition, final design, permits, and bidding — could take another 12 to 24 months, depending on which alternative advances.

Why this matters — even from Cowlitz County

While the Fairfax Bridge is in Pierce County, it’s a reminder of a problem Cowlitz County residents know well: aging, long-deferred infrastructure becomes “unaffordable” only after it’s allowed to fail. In this case, WSDOT has acknowledged years of deferred preservation tied to funding constraints, and now the public is left with no general access to a major recreation corridor.

For Southwest Washington residents who travel for hiking, camping, and day trips, the closure has cut off public access from SR 165 to parts of Mount Rainier National Park and nearby recreation areas that were previously reached via the Mowich Lake corridor. WSDOT says an emergency detour exists for first responders and certain property owners, but it is not open to the public.

What WSDOT’s study covers

WSDOT’s planning study (completed in December 2025) evaluated a range of alternatives before narrowing the focus. WSDOT’s January 2026 update says the agency is now advancing only two options into design and environmental review — replacement north of the existing bridge, or removal with continued closure.

WSDOT’s full final report is available online as a PDF.

Sources