King County Executive Ron Sims has proposed an agreement between the county and the City of Snoqualmie to rehabilitate the historic Meadowbrook Bridge. Construction could start as early as next spring. The agreement is currently before the King County Council for approval.

“The Meadowbrook Bridge is an important part of our roadway network that serves unincorporated King County residents and Snoqualmie city residents,” said Sims. “Working with the City of Snoqualmie, local residents, and the King County Landmarks and Heritage Commission, we have developed an innovative plan that will improve vehicle and pedestrian safety while extending the bridge's useful life and preserving its historic nature.”

Sims thanked the City of Snoqualmie for working closely with the King County Road Services Division on the rehabilitation plan. The city is providing construction easements on city-owned property, facilitating the permit process, and relocating a municipal waterline.

The 82-year-old bridge is located on Meadowbrook Avenue at Southeast Reinig Road across the Snoqualmie River. The south approach is located within city limits and the north approach is in unincorporated King County. The county built it in 1921, and has operated and maintained it ever since.

The aging Meadowbrook Bridge has deficiencies that include narrow lanes, low vertical clearance, poor sight distance, substandard guardrails, and a deteriorating truss. The metal deck and timber trestles require a high level of maintenance due to rust, rot and other damage. These deficiencies caused the county to place load limits on the bridge – allowing only one truck at a time to cross.

The Roads Division originally planned to replace the Meadowbrook Bridge with a two-lane bridge of modern design. After several public meetings with the community, extensive consultation with the city and the Landmarks and Heritage Commission, and a traffic analysis, plans were developed to rehabilitate the structure and convert the two-lane bridge to a one-lane bridge with traffic controls at each end. This preserves the historic structure of the bridge, while making it safe for modern-day travel. Even with one travel lane, the bridge will be adequate for local traffic in the Meadowbrook community. During construction, it will be closed for up to seven months.

Approximately 70 percent of the project’s $6.1 million budget is covered by federal bridge grants. See the project website for more information.
 

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