New Bridge Decking in progress on Whitehorse Trail

Snohomish County Public Works has started decking bridges on the Whitehorse Trail.  Russ Bosanko from Snohomish County Parks sent us updated news of this work and we visited this Whitehorse Trail bridge just east of 127th Ave NE (bridge #2 on our CTCSC Whitehorse Trail map, Bridge 702 on the Snohomish County list)

Snohomish Co. Public Works upgrading bridge 702, photo from Russ Bosanko

The bridge decking is another great step forward following this past summer of work on the Whitehorse Trail.  The eastern 18 miles of the trail received a thorough brushing and other access enhancements, probably the most immediate  maintenance need for preserving the trail.

Now the next phase is started.  Snohomish County Parks has had the offer of a generous private donation to pay for decking materials, all with an eye toward getting the entire Whitehorse Trail fully functional.  A lot of work and financing is still to be determined, but we are extremely happy to see the fine work that is evident here.

photo before the work (from March 2012)

Here is a photo taken several years ago showing the bridge with it's old open lattice of cross ties.

















Each of the old railroad bridges along the trail were assessed this past spring.  This bridge evidently needed some new pieces as is seen in these photos with the new I-beam.

The bridge is not open for use yet.  There will need to be railings, and the eventual plan also calls for a non-slip surface that will be better for horses in wet weather.  This bridge has the decking placed perpendicular to the travel direction, which seems like a better application for slip prevention than some of the older bridges that have decking placed lengthwise.

 A secondary benefit of the recent work is that some new sections of the trail have gotten cleared of the impossible to penetrate and invasive Himalayan Blackberry.

It is wonderful to see the new work.  Many, many people are anxious to see this fantastic trail provide walking, bicycling, horseback riding, and river viewing adventures for the community.  We can't help but look around the bend to the next section of trail we want to visit.