Like anything that is three quarters of a century old, the westbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge needs some work — and it’s not just cosmetic, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.
The span needs four new finger expansion joints and updated hydraulic dampers, or shock absorbers. Its emergency power systems, which support fog horns and navigation lights, need to be replaced.
Total cost: $12 million. The state transportation department says it doesn’t have the money and for some of the work it doesn’t have the expertise. That means it will have to seek bids.
“The necessary repairs are more complex and extensive than what (department) maintenance crews can perform with in-house resources,” said Cara Mitchell, Washington Department of Transportation communications manager. “Replacing the damaged expansion joints would require (the department) to advertise and award a construction contract to complete the work.”…