The Hylebos Bridge shut down Monday, Aug. 24, for the fourth time in four months, deepening a pattern of breakdowns on the 87-year-old drawbridge that connects the Tacoma Tideflats to East 11th Street.
The City of Tacoma closed the bridge for a multi-day inspection of its centerlock, the mechanism that locks the two moveable spans together so they don't lift while vehicles cross.
The city said the work was expected to last through Aug. 27, though a News Tribune headline update on Aug. 25 indicated the bridge may have reopened early.
Detours were in place for drivers. Shipping vessels continued to pass through.
The closure is the latest in a string that has accelerated this year. The bridge also closed:
- April 20 for a mechanical issue (reopened April 22)
- June 11 for a centerlock replacement (reopened the same day)
- July 27 for an electrical malfunction in its communication system (reopened July 28)
Before 2026, the bridge endured a week-long shutdown for a technical malfunction in August 2025, a nearly month-long closure for a broken communications cable in 2024 and a boat collision in 2023.
The bridge was built in 1939 and rehabilitated in 2012. The News Tribune reported in July that the bridge "lasted for just under a year without needing to be shut down" before the electrical failure, referring to the gap between the August 2025 repair and the July 2026 breakdown.
City engineer Brian Wang told the News Tribune on July 28 that the previous closure was caused by "an electrical malfunction in the bridge's communication system."
During that same incident, city spokesperson Dee Paul told the paper the bridge is "much more important for it to remain open to vessels in the port" than to cars.
The city's press release for the Aug. 24 closure called the centerlock "essential to maintain the continued safe and reliable operation of the bridge." No source has confirmed whether the inspection is related to the June 11 centerlock replacement or involves a different component.
Project supervisor Steve Carstens is the city's point of contact for the current work and can be reached at [email protected] or (253) 591-5263.
Residents who use East 11th Street to reach tideflats employers should watch for continued detour announcements from the city. The bridge's next scheduled maintenance date has not been announced.
