Starting the first weekend after Labor Day 2021, The Dalles Bridge will be closed from Thursday nights at 8 p.m. through Monday mornings at 6 a.m. These closures will occur every weekend until Memorial Day 2022. Full weekend closures are needed to facilitate a bridge deck replacement project that will provide a smoother, safer ride for travelers between Oregon and Washington. The Biggs Junction bridge will provide access across the river during closure times.
Various closure options were considered for the bridge work, including an option that would have closed the bridge for 6 months or more. After talking with and receiving input from many stakeholders, including law enforcement and emergency service providers, it was decided that weekend closures would have the least impact on bridge users.
ODOT has worked with the Corps of Engineers to allow emergency vehicles to cross the dam at The Dalles when the bridge is closed and impassible.
If you would like more information on this project, visit the project website here.