A bridge for Foothills Trail – The Senior Scene

County and local government officials participated in a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 18. When completed, the steel bridge across the White River will connect Buckley and Enumclaw and be part of the trail that extends from Enumclaw to Puyallup.

Doing the honors at a groundbreaking for the Foothills Bridge between Enumclaw and Buckley were (from left) were Shayla Miles, executive director of Foothills-to-Trails Coalition; Pat Johnson, a former mayor of Buckley; Liz Reynolds, ex-mayor of Enumclaw; King County Executive Dow Constantine and Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier.

The project is funded by the voter-approved King County Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Levy, a grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, and contributions from the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition, the city of Buckley, and Pierce County.

The new bridge will double as an alternative emergency route for pedestrians and vehicles if the State Route 410 bridge at Buckley becomes impassable during a catastrophe. Without the alternative route during such an emergency, access to the area’s nearest hospital (in Enumclaw) could take much longer, officials said.