Pilots: Huge ships increase risk of Lewis and Clark Bridge disaster

By: Henry Brannan

Outlets: The Columbian

Published: March 10, 2026

Words: 2,170

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

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LONGVIEW — Columbia River shipping industry leaders say there is a growing risk that a large ship will strike the Lewis and Clark Bridge between Rainier and Longview, potentially causing the 95-year-old bridge to collapse.

In the years since the modern shipping channel was completed next to the bridge’s unprotected east support pier, ships have doubled in size. Pilots must calculate clearance margins with imprecise or nonexistent sensors.

The first weekend of February, a ship …

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