Repainting Rainbow Bridge may be a dream

When the iconic Rainbow Bridge, the often-photographed arched orange span synonymous with La Conner opened in 1957, it looked like a million.

Fast forward to 2024 and the now faded local landmark requires several millions – as in dollars – to reclaim its original bright orange appeal.

The estimated cost of repainting Rainbow Bridge, which links La Conner and the Skagit County mainland with Fidalgo Island and Swinomish Reservation, is about $4 million, town resident Linda Peterson learned from Skagit County Public Works staff.

Peterson has been concerned about the bridge's condition for some time and shared those concerns with La Conner Councilmember Rick Dole. Dole noted that it is a county span and that she should contact its public works department.

Pederson did.

"I sent a letter in December about my concerns," Peterson said.

She received a response Jan. 8 from Forrest Jones, the county's lead bridge inspector.

Jones acknowledged that Rainbow Bridge "is somewhat lacking in its normal coloring and has faded and is a bit dirty.

"However," he added, "per the last inspection performed in 2023, the paint system while dirty and faded, is in good shape overall."

Jones said of the 72,000 square feet of paint on the bridge, less than one percent – about 700 square feet – is lacking or has been downgraded.

The paint appears brightest, though, on the underside of the bridge, rather than its heavy volume car deck.

"Unfortunately," Jones told Peterson, "the costs to repaint the bridge is prohibitive due to our already overstretched budgets for the coming years of 2024 and 2025."

The $4 million price tag for paining is largely due to mandated paint containment and environmental protection measures.

"Part of the high costs," Jones explained, "is we would be required to fully contain the bridge during the procedure so as not to allow contaminates to fall into the channel below."

The county plans to avoid the fallout from a painting project in the late 1980s when boaters complained about orange paint falling onto their vessels as they passed beneath. Motorists have also had their vehicles splattered while crossing the bridge during the project.

Jones confirmed to Peterson that in addition to paint and labor plus permit fees, traffic control is a significant expense.

"Due to these costs," he said, "Public Works is looking for grant funding to help subsidize the cost.

"The next call for projects on bridge grant funding is tentatively scheduled for 2025," said Jones. "We will be looking at grant criteria to see if the bridge would qualify for not only paint but also to repair any other issues the bridge may have."