Upper Pearl Hill Bridge to close for 3-month replacement project

BRIDGEPORT — Douglas County officials announced Monday that construction on the Upper Pearl Hill Bridge replacement project will begin August 19, nearly four years after the structure sustained significant damage in a wildfire.

The bridge, located approximately 5 miles outside Bridgeport, will close for an estimated three months as crews demolish the existing structure and install a new, wider span. The project will improve safety and restore access for commercial farming vehicles, which have faced weight restrictions since the September 7, 2020, Cold Springs Canyon/Pearl Hill Fire.

Funded by a $3 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation Local Bridge Program, the new bridge will feature 11-foot lanes and 6-foot shoulders, expanding the total width to 34 feet. The structure will span just over 48 feet in length.

The project includes reconstructing bridge approaches, guardrails, and signage and installing stormwater collection and treatment facilities.

County officials have advised motorists to follow posted detour signs and anticipate increased travel times during the closure, which is expected to last until mid-November, depending on construction progress.