Two teenage boys climbed to the top of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge late Saturday night, reaching a height of 500 feet above the water and forcing the Washington State Patrol to close all westbound lanes of State Route 16 for nearly an hour while troopers worked to bring them down safely.
The Washington State Patrol reported the closure at 10:07 p.m. after the two individuals were spotted climbing the bridge’s cable suspensions. All westbound lanes of SR-16 just before the Narrows Bridge were blocked and traffic was diverted to Jackson Avenue as troopers worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation to manage the situation.
By 10:43 p.m., the WSP confirmed the two climbers, aged 16 and 17, had reached the very top of the structure. Troopers warned that strong wind gusts at that height made the situation especially dangerous, not only for the boys themselves but for vehicles below. “Anything could go wrong and pose a major hazard to traffic below, and that’s why a road closure is necessary,” the WSP said in a statement.
Both climbers were taken into custody by 11 p.m. and the road was set to reopen shortly after. The teenagers are expected to face charges of criminal trespass and obstructing law enforcement.
