State Adds $40M Deception Pass Bridge Seismic Project
The Washington State Department of Transportation has added a $40 million project to make the Deception Pass Bridge more resistant to earthquakes.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Safety
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Washington State Department of Transportation added a $40 million Deception Pass Bridge project to its six-year plan, aimed at improving earthquake resistance and addressing other structural problems. The seismic work was added about three weeks before an October 28 board meeting.
Why it matters
In March 2025, WSDOT said funding was unavailable for seismic improvements recommended in a 2019 engineering study, so the new project marks a shift in state priorities for the bridges. The Deception Pass Bridge carries Highway 20 across Canoe Pass between Whidbey and Fidalgo islands, making its structural condition relevant to residents across Washington.
The $40 million figure is a preliminary cost estimate for the project, which is roughly twelve times the approximately $3.2 million in seismic retrofits engineers recommended in 2019. Final scope and schedule remain undetermined while engineering work continues.
The players
Washington State Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for maintaining Washington's highways, including the Deception Pass Bridge and its six-year capital plan.
The details
WSDOT hired a consultant to work with bridge engineers to define the project scope, which will include seismic retrofits and structural repairs. Planned repairs cover wind shoes, floor beams, cracked stringers and bridge decks, addressing deficiencies in secondary components and bridge bearings identified in the 2019 study.
Timeline
March 2025: WSDOT said it had no plans for recommended seismic improvements due to lack of funding.
October 28, 2026: Board meeting where WSDOT discussed the $40 million project.
January or February 2027: The executive board may receive a more detailed presentation from WSDOT's bridge and structures division.
November 2028: WSDOT plans to advertise the project for bids.
Seasonal Patterns
The Deception Pass Bridges, completed in 1935, were evaluated in a 2019 WSDOT engineering study that recommended roughly $3.2 million in seismic retrofits. The new $40 million project revisits those recommendations, which had been set aside in March 2025 when funding was unavailable.
Drivers on Highway 20 should expect the Deception Pass Bridges to remain in service while planning proceeds, since the project's schedule is still being developed. Residents and commuters who rely on the crossing can follow WSDOT board updates for changes to timing or any construction-related closures.
The takeaway
A state engineering study can identify needed bridge upgrades years before funding catches up, and this project shows how those recommendations can return to the agenda when priorities shift. Watching board meetings and the eventual bid schedule will show whether the work moves forward as planned.
What happens next
WSDOT's bridge and structures division may give the executive board a more detailed presentation in January or February 2027, and the state plans to advertise the project for bids in November 2028.
Further reading
For more on how the state keeps its roads and bridges safe, see Safety coverage across Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Herald net.
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