The 94-year-old Yale Bridge on state Route 503 has a funded rehabilitation project in the works, but the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has yet to determine the full scope of improvements or when construction will begin.
The bridge, built in 1932, received a repair in 2024 after a hole developed in its timber deck. WSDOT crews secured a steel plate over the damaged area to address the problem.
As Washington continues to grapple with aging infrastructure and a backlog of bridge preservation needs, the Yale Bridge’s future raises questions about how long repairs can keep older structures in service and when rehabilitation or replacement becomes necessary.
Celeste Dimichina, a member of WSDOT’s Communications & Media Relations team, responded to The Reflector's questions regarding the bridge and its age, maintenance schedule and other old bridges in the state on Friday, Oct. 9. She said WSDOT has funding for a rehabilitation project intended to extend the Yale Bridge’s service life.
“Potential improvements include repairs to the bridge deck and other structural components,” Dimichina said.
“The project is in the early stages, and the work still needs to be scoped,” she added. “The scope and construction timelines will be determined as the project moves forward.”
WSDOT has not identified a replacement project or provided a timeline for the rehabilitation work.
Current look at Yale Bridge and statewide aging bridge backlog
WSDOT regularly inspects and maintains the bridge to keep it safe for travelers, Dimichina said. Bridges generally are inspected every two years, with additional inspections when conditions warrant.
In 2024, crews repaired a hole in the bridge’s timber deck by securing a steel plate over the damaged area. Dimichina’s response did not specify whether similar repairs have been necessary since then or whether additional short-term fixes are anticipated before the rehabilitation project begins.
WSDOT maintains more than 3,500 bridges statewide, including 359 that are more than 80 years old. Of those, 42 need replacement and another 35 require major rehabilitation, according to Dimichina.
The agency uses regular inspections and condition assessments to prioritize maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement work within available funding.
“WSDOT has faced ongoing funding shortfalls for bridge preservation and maintenance for several years,” Dimichina said. “This has led to a growing backlog of unmet needs.”
The 2025-27 transportation budget made what WSDOT described as historic investments in maintenance and preservation. However, Dimichina said additional funding is needed to address decades of underfunding and maintenance challenges affecting the state’s aging transportation system.
How does the Yale Bridge compare with other aging bridges?
The Yale Bridge’s age alone does not determine how much longer it can remain in service. Each bridge has different characteristics that affect its condition and maintenance needs, Dimichina said.
“Every bridge is unique in size, structure type, location, maintenance history, traffic volumes, and weather exposure,” she said. “These variables make drawing apples to apples comparisons with bridges impossible.”
WSDOT pointed to the 95-year-old U.S. Highway 101 Hoh River Bridge on the Olympic Peninsula as an example of an older structure undergoing rehabilitation rather than replacement.
The agency also cited the closure of the 104-year-old State Route 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge in April 2025. WSDOT closed that bridge after inspections revealed severe deterioration and damage that left the structure beyond repair.
“When inspections reveal severe deterioration and damage to a structure that is beyond repair, WSDOT will close the bridge,” Dimichina said.
Although both the Yale Bridge and Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge are aging structures, WSDOT did not identify the Yale Bridge as facing the same conditions that led to the Fairfax bridge’s closure.
Is the Yale Bridge at risk of closure?
WSDOT did not identify an imminent closure threat for the Yale Bridge. The agency’s response said bridges that remain open have been determined safe for travel under their current operating conditions.
“Unexpected deterioration or damage may require traffic restrictions or bridge closures,” Dimichina said. “However, if a bridge remains open to traffic, WSDOT has determined it is safe for travel under its current operating conditions.”
If a safety concern is identified, the agency will take appropriate action, including repairs, traffic restrictions or closure, Dimichina added.
“The safety of the traveling public is WSDOT’s top priority,” she said.
