Drivers of tall trucks and equipment on State Route 410 now have another warning before reaching the White River Bridge between Enumclaw and Buckley.
Drivers of tall trucks and equipment on State Route 410 now have another warning before reaching the White River Bridge between Enumclaw and Buckley, after a bridge strike last year caused major damage and an extended closure.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently installed a new over-height vehicle detection system on the SR 410 White River Bridge.
An image of the new over height detection system installed on SR 410 White River Bridge a year after the bridge was damaged by a truck. (KOMO)The installation follows a bridge strike last August that significantly damaged the bridge and shut down the crossing for an extended period. Crews worked seven days a week to repair the structure and reopen it.
The closure affected thousands of people who rely on the bridge each day, including commuters, freight traffic, and businesses in the Enumclaw and Buckley communities.
The new system uses sensors to detect vehicles that may be too tall to safely pass under the bridge. When an over-height vehicle is detected, warning signs, flashing beacons and audible alarms activate to alert the driver before reaching the bridge.
“This bridge is a critical connection for communities on both sides of the White River,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said. “We’re giving it another layer of protection for travelers, and for the people who depend on this route every day.”
The detection system does not change the bridge’s 14-foot clearance and does not replace drivers’ responsibility to know the height of their vehicle and load and to obtain any required permits, WSDOT said.
This photo from Sept. 8, 2025, shows work being done on the damaged White River Bridge.(KOMO){ }WSDOT urged drivers of tall vehicles to know their vehicle, equipment and load height before traveling; use the agency’s online vertical clearance trip planner; check route restrictions before using SR 410; obey posted clearance signs; stop if the warning system activates; and use approved alternate routes when required.
Bridge strikes are preventable, WSDOT said, but can have wide impacts, including damage to infrastructure, highway closures, and regional travel disruptions.
“This is about prevention,” Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith said. “We need drivers to do their part, and this system gives them one more opportunity to make the safe choice before a bridge strike happens.”
In the 2026 Supplemental Transportation Budget, the Legislature directed WSDOT to analyze recent bridge strikes in Washington and recommend ways to reduce future strikes, including potential improvements to physical infrastructure, posted warning signs, and additional driver information.
WSDOT’s report is due to the Legislature in September 2026.
