Smooth move: Paving work begins on SR 14 West Camas Slough Bridge in east Clark County

CAMAS - Travelers on the State Route 14 West Camas Slough Bridge in east Clark County will soon enjoy a smoother ride as work to repair and repave the driving surface gets underway.

Starting Monday, Aug. 10, Washington State Department of Transportation contractor Combined Construction, Inc., will begin improvements on the SR 14 West Camas Slough Bridge near Camas. This stage of work will continue through August, mostly overnight on weekdays, with one partial weekend closure planned for Aug. 14-17.

Years of traffic and weather have worn down the bridge surface, causing potholes and ruts to return despite repeated maintenance and repairs. This project will provide a long-term solution by removing the worn asphalt, repairing the bridge deck where needed, adding a new waterproofing layer and repaving the roadway.

"Drivers have dealt with a rough road on this bridge for far too long," said WSDOT Project Engineer Susan Fell. "This project will finally address the underlying cause instead of making temporary repairs. Once complete, the bridge deck will provide a smoother, more reliable drive while extending the life of this important connection between east and west Clark County."

What to expect during construction

Most work will take place overnight on weekdays, with only one direction of SR 14 closed at a time. The bridge will remain open in both directions during the day.

A weekend closure is planned from Friday night, Aug. 14 through Monday morning, Aug. 17. Only one direction of the bridge will be closed at a time. Closure details and schedules will be updated on the project webpage as work progresses.

During the closures:

• Travelers on eastbound SR 14 will take Exit 12 to Northwest 6th Avenue. The on-ramp to eastbound SR 14 at Southwest 6th Avenue will be closed.
• Travelers on westbound SR 14 will take Exit 14 to 2nd Street. The on-ramp to westbound SR 14 at Southeast Union Street will be closed.
• A signed detour will be in place to guide travelers through Camas and Washougal.
• Freight traffic should use a different route, if possible, to avoid delays.

Paving is expected to finish by the end of August. Construction will then pause while crews wait for bridge joint materials, then resume in October for crews to replace four bridge expansion joints.

Once this $1.3 million dollar project is complete, travelers can expect a smoother drive, fewer unexpected repair closures and the removal of the "Rough Road" signs.