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SJM8016 • 2026
Requesting Congress to determine that the closure of the Fairfax bridge and its immediate replacement be considered an emergency.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Fairfax bridge closure
Senate Rules "X" file.
Fairfax bridge closure
TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1 AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 2 REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF 3 THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND THE SECRETARY OF THE 4 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: 5 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of 6 the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, 7 respectfully represent and petition as follows: 8 WHEREAS, The Fairfax bridge over the Carbon river on state route 9 number 165 closed permanently in April 2025 due to severe structural 10 deterioration; and 11 WHEREAS, The Fairfax bridge is on the historic register; and12 WHEREAS, The Fairfax bridge provides the sole point of access to 13 a large portion of Mount Rainier national park; and14 WHEREAS, The Fairfax bridge provided the sole access between 15 community members south of the bridge and the greater Washington 16 state area; and 17 WHEREAS, Those citizens living south of the Fairfax bridge must 18 now traverse logging roads over private land in order to access their 19 homes; and 20 WHEREAS, Many community members now end up spending eight hours 21 or more away from home in order to perform general quality of life 22 actions such as shopping for essentials; and 23 S-4445.1 SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8016 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senators Fortunato, Liias, Dozier, and Nobles Read first time 02/03/26. Referred to Committee on Transportation. p. 1 SJM 8016 WHEREAS, These temporary access roads were closed during the 1 recent severe storms, completely cutting off all access to the 2 outside world for residents south of the bridge; 3 NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that you 4 determine that the closure of the Fairfax bridge and its immediate 5 replacement be considered an emergency, and that all necessary steps 6 be taken to shift the national environmental protection act review to 7 take place concurrently or after the replacement bridge is erected. 8 We further pray that you recognize the danger represented by the 9 current bridge's condition and that you remove the current bridge 10 from the historic register so that a replacement may be quickly 11 constructed in place. 12 BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 13 transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United 14 States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 15 House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the state of 16 Washington, and the Secretary of the United States Department of 17 Transportation. 18 --- END --- p. 2 SJM 8016