Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation recently installed a new over height vehicle detection system on the White River Bridge along State Route 410, which connects the communities of Enumclaw and Buckley.
[Above photo via WSDOT]
The new system uses sensors to detect vehicles that may be too tall to safely cross under the bridge. When an over height vehicle is detected, the system will activate warning signs, flashing beacons, and audible alarms to alert the driver before they reach the bridge.
WSDOT stressed that this new over height detection system does not change the 14-foot bridge clearance and does not replace the responsibility of drivers to know the height of their vehicle and load and obtain any required permits for travel.
The agency added that it installed the new technology in response to a bridge strike on the structure in August 2025 that caused significant damage and led to an extended closure; affecting thousands of people who rely on the bridge each day, including commuters, freight and businesses located in these communities.
“This bridge is a critical connection for communities on both sides of the White River,” said Governor Bob Ferguson (D) in a statement. “We’re giving it another layer of protection for travelers, and for the people who depend on this route every day.”
“This [new technology] is about prevention,” noted Julie Meredith, WSDOT secretary. “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.”
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