The overnight closure of the Astoria-Megler Bridge has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 26, due to weather conditions. The closure is necessary for crews to remove the former toll booth structure on the Oregon-side on-ramp after inspectors found a potential safety concern.
A recent inspection by bridge engineers revealed damage to the wood roof of the old toll booth. Inspectors warned that it could collapse during bad weather and recommended removing it quickly to reduce risk for travelers.
“The bridge itself remains safe for travel. This emergency work is focused only on the deteriorating toll structure,” according to officials.
The full bridge will be closed in both directions from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursday, February 19. There is no practical detour available during these hours. Flaggers will be present at both ends of the bridge, and emergency vehicles will be allowed through the closure. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and avoid crossing during these overnight hours if possible. Construction noise is expected.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge opened in 1966 and originally charged $1.50 per vehicle in tolls until tolling ended in 1993 when construction costs were paid off. While toll booths were removed at that time, the overhead structure remained.
Travelers can check TripCheck.com for updates about closures and road conditions.
