Emergency repairs to SR 285 Wenatchee River bridges to begin Jan. 14, bringing overnight lane closures

WENATCHEE — Emergency repairs to the State Route 285 Wenatchee River bridges north of Horse Lake Road are set to begin Wednesday, Jan. 14, addressing damage caused by erosion during the December 2025 flooding and marking the next step in stabilizing one of the region’s key north–south routes.

The bridges have long been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and are also expected to be part of the completion of the Confluence Parkway as that project unfurls over time.

The work will take place on the paired bridges carrying SR285 East and West at milepost 4, just north of the Horse Lake Road intersection. The project will focus on repairing bridge approaches and guardrail that were undermined by flood-related erosion, as well as installing new drainage features designed to reduce the risk of future washouts.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has contracted KRCI, LLC to perform the work. Crews are scheduled to begin work underneath the bridge structure, with traffic impacts increasing as the project moves into later phases.

Drivers should expect overnight lane closures during the week, with work taking place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday. On weekends, the schedule will shift to a continuous work window, running from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday, until repairs are complete.

WSDOT estimates the emergency repairs will take approximately 30 working days, though the total calendar time will depend on weather conditions and how work progresses once crews are fully mobilized.

The project is part of the ongoing response to December’s flooding, which caused damage at multiple locations across North Central Washington and left several transportation corridors in need of stabilization and repair.

Officials are encouraging drivers to plan ahead, expect delays during work hours, and check the state’s real-time travel map for current lane closures and traffic conditions before heading through the area.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media