OLYMPIA — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato to fast-track the emergency replacement of the Fairfax Bridge will receive a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Senate Bill 5987 is in response to the closure of the Fairfax Bridge on State Route 165, which cut off access to parts of Mount Rainier National Park and forced residents and businesses in surrounding communities to rely on unsafe and inefficient detours. The bill would declare the bridge failure an emergency and direct the Washington State Department of Transportation to restore access as quickly as possible by expediting planning and construction of a replacement bridge.
“This isn’t about politics. it’s about access and safety,” Fortunato, R-Auburn, said. “If the state owns the highway, the state owns the problem. Communities shouldn’t be left isolated or hurt economically because critical infrastructure was allowed to fail.”
The proposal would grant emergency authority to speed up construction by temporarily waiving certain procedural requirements that could delay the project, while maintaining protections required under federal law and the Constitution. It would also allow Climate Commitment Act funds to be used for the emergency replacement, recognizing the immediate public safety and economic impacts of the closure.
“For decades, this bridge was ignored,” Fortunato said. “Now families, small businesses, and entire communities are paying the price. This bill is about cutting through bureaucracy and getting the job done.”
Fortunato said the Fairfax Bridge failure highlights the need for the state to take transportation funding more seriously and plan ahead to avoid future disruptions. He pointed to his long-standing efforts to fully fund transportation with existing revenue, including Senate Bill 5743, which he introduced in 2019, as well as other proposals over the years.
“I’ve been promoting fully funding transportation with existing revenue for more than 25 years,” Fortunato said. “Olympia needs to take transportation seriously if we want to avoid this kind of disruption happening again in communities across our state.”
The Fairfax Bridge closure has disrupted tourism tied to Mount Rainier, stalled economic activity in nearby towns, and forced residents south of the Carbon River to travel rough logging roads to reach groceries, medical care, and emergency services.
“We wouldn’t accept this situation in an urban area, and we shouldn’t accept it here,” Fortunato said. “Whether one person or thousands use that road, the obligation is the same — keep it open, safe, and reliable.”
The measure is bipartisan and has a companion bill, House Bill 2149. Both bills have been referred to their respective transportation committees for consideration. The Senate Transportation Committee hearing on SB 5987 is scheduled for Jan. 27.
News regarding legislative proposals to replace the Fairfax Bridge:
The 60-day 2026 legislative session began Monday, Jan. 12, and will conclude March 12.
