Public Bridges

Cougar Creek Bridge on Northeast Washougal Road, following its replacement in 2012.

Cougar Creek Bridge on Northeast Washougal Road, following its replacement in 2012.

Clark County Public Works manages, inspects and maintains 78 bridges on county roads. Federal and state standards require the county to inspect and document the condition of bridges at least once every two years.

Fifth Plain Creek Bridge demolition, August 2015.

Fifth Plain Creek Bridge demolition, August 2015.

Restrictions

Some bridges are load or height restricted. Signs at these bridges indicate the type and level of restriction. Click here for more information about restricted bridges on county roads. Note: this only includes county owned bridges and does not included bridges on state roads (interstates, highways) or streets in incorporated cities.

Bridge report and deficiencies

Washington Administrative Code 136-20-060 requires the county to produce a written report on its bridge inspection program.

Bridge engineers use two terms for deficient bridges:

Structurally deficient means the bridge’s condition or design has affected its ability to carry traffic. The bridge is not unsafe or likely to collapse – Clark County would immediately close an unsafe bridge – but it does indicate the bridge will require significant maintenance and repair and ultimately will require replacement or major rehabilitation.

Clark County has two bridges that are listed as structurally deficient: Davis Bridge and Salmon Creek Bridge. Both bridges were downgraded in 2016 and are structurally deficient due to substructure scour damage, a type of water erosion that can can undermine bridge piers and abutments. Both bridges received increased inspection and monitoring because of their condition.

Functionally obsolete means the bridge's deck geometry, load carrying capacity, clearance or approach roadway alignment does not meet accepted design standards.

While structural deficiencies are generally the result of deterioration of bridge components, functional obsolescence typically results from older bridge configurations that are subject to increased traffic demands and are substandard structures as defined by the current bridge design codes.

Clark County has 13 bridges classified as functionally obsolete.

Bridge projects

The bridge program also includes projects to:

  • Seismically retrofit bridges so they will be better able to withstand earthquakes.
  • Repair scour damage and reduce the potential for future scour.
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In 2017-2018, Clark County built the 10th Avenue Bridge, which carries Northeast 10th Avenue over Whipple Creek along the west side of Interstate 5 south of the Clark County Fairgrounds. The bridge is approximately 425 feet long and 48 feet above Whipple Creek.

In 2016-2017, the county replaced Cedar Creek Bridge, on Northeast Etna Road just south of the North Fork Lewis River in north Clark County. Cedar Creek Bridge was one of two weight-restricted bridges owned by the county. The replacement bridge opened on March 27, 2017.

New Cedar Creek Bridge, following its opening in March 2017.

Cedar Creek Bridge, following its opening in March 2017.

During 2015-2016, the county replaced Fifth Plain Creek Bridge, on Northeast 88th Street about one-half mile east of Northeast Ward Road. Fifth Plain Creek Bridge was the last wood support bridge owned by the county. A replacement bridge opened on Jan. 21, 2016.

In 2012, Clark County replaced Cougar Creek Bridge, on Northeast Washougal River Road.

Clark County's next major bridge project will replace Davis Bridge, which spans Fifth Plain Creek on Northeast Davis Road about a half mile east of Northeast Ward Road. Construction is scheduled for 2022.

The bridge program also includes projects to:

  • Seismically retrofit bridges so they will be better able to withstand earthquakes.
  • Repair scour damage and reduce the potential for future scour.

The county aggressively seeks outside funding to help pay for bridge projects. In 2012, the county was selected to receive $4.1 million in federal grants to replace one bridge, Fifth Plain Creek Bridge, and to upgrade four other crossings.

For more information on those bridge grants, watch this January 2013 CVTV video:

[video: https://youtu.be/s7GD-KyEOko]

Placing the deck for the new Fifth Plain Creek Bridge.

Placing the deck for the new Fifth Plain Creek Bridge.