🚗 The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Reopened Early. Here's What's Next for Gig Harbor Commuters

Westbound drivers got a break last week. All lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toward Gig Harbor reopened Friday, October 30, at 11:40 AM, nine days ahead of WSDOT's November 8 target.

Crews had closed the two right lanes and the Jackson Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 16 around the clock starting October 24 for an emergency partial expansion joint replacement. They removed a deteriorating section of the joint, installed a new locally fabricated piece, and poured concrete around it. "Thanks to substantial initial preparation, planning and expert staff, we were able to complete the repair ahead of schedule," said WSDOT Olympic Region Administrator MaryLou Shannon.

The bigger problem is still there. The westbound span opened in 1950, and WSDOT says three of the four large expansion joints near the towers are near the end of their life. This repair was the latest in a string of emergency joint fixes since 2024, and WSDOT says to expect more temporary lane closures until the joints are replaced.

A permanent fix is in the works. Joint replacement is in design now, with construction planned for 2027, and the state has just over $300 million programmed through 2031 for westbound bridge preservation, depending on budget funding.

Details:

• Reopened: Friday, October 30, 11:40 AM, nine days early

• What: emergency partial expansion joint replacement on the westbound SR 16 span

• Next: permanent joint replacement planned for 2027, with more temporary closures possible before then

• Updates: WSDOT's SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge page and travel alerts

Real estate note: the Narrows Bridge is the link between Tacoma and Gig Harbor, and its health matters to anyone buying or selling on the peninsula. Knowing a permanent fix is planned for 2027 helps commuters weigh Gig Harbor's lifestyle against a daily bridge crossing.

Cover photo: Kevin Madden via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.