Black Ice Causes Multiple Crashes, Shuts Down Tacoma Narrows Bridge

All eastbound lanes of SR 16 on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge are blocked due to the hazardous conditions.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:50pm

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Multiple crashes on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state have led to the closure of all eastbound lanes on SR 16 early Monday morning. The Washington State Patrol has attributed the incidents to excessive black ice on the bridge, with the Washington State Department of Transportation en route to treat the road.

Why it matters

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a critical transportation link between the Gig Harbor peninsula and Tacoma, and its closure is likely to cause significant traffic disruptions and delays for commuters and travelers in the region. Black ice is a dangerous road condition that can lead to loss of vehicle control and increased risk of collisions.

The details

According to reports, the lane closures on the eastbound side of SR 16 on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge began around 4:40 a.m. on Monday. KIRO Newsradio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan described the scene as 'super foggy' with a truck 'nose into the barrier' and another vehicle behind it, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the situation. The Washington State Patrol has confirmed that the crashes were caused by 'excessive black ice' on the bridge.

  • The lane closures started at 4:40 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • WSDOT Tacoma is en route to treat the road, and the bridge will open up shortly after.

The players

WSDOT Tacoma

The Washington State Department of Transportation's Tacoma office, which is responsible for maintaining and operating the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Washington State Patrol

The law enforcement agency responsible for investigating the crashes and providing updates on the situation.

Chris Sullivan

A traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio, who provided on-the-ground updates on the conditions at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Trooper Kameron Watts

A Washington State Patrol trooper who confirmed the cause of the crashes as excessive black ice on the bridge.

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What they’re saying

“All lanes are now blocked eastbound on SR 16 across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, where it's also super foggy. There's a truck kind of nose into the barrier, and then something a little behind that, but it's kind of hard to tell with the fog. We're backed up out of Gig Harbor, and again, I don't have any estimate on when they're going to be able to reopen some lanes.”

— Chris Sullivan, KIRO Newsradio traffic reporter

“WSDOT Tacoma is en route to treat the road, and the bridge will open up shortly after.”

— Trooper Kameron Watts

What’s next

The Washington State Department of Transportation is currently working to treat the road and reopen the eastbound lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as soon as possible.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the dangers of black ice, a hazardous road condition that can lead to multiple collisions and the closure of critical transportation infrastructure. It underscores the importance of proactive road maintenance and weather monitoring to ensure the safety of drivers, especially during the winter months.