What may be to many a greatly anticipated and exciting Christmas surprise, the newly built bridge at Railroad Bridge Park will open for use on Thursday, Dec. 24.

Access across Dungeness Railroad Bridge and adjoining wooden trestle that also acts as an integral part of the Olympic Discovery Trail has been closed since early February when heavy rains and corresponding river conditions caused damage to the trestle, rendering it unsafe.

For the past 11 months the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, as owner of the park and its structures, has taken the lead toward replacing the damaged trestle with a modern, river and fish-friendly bridge.

Annette Nesse, chief operating officer for the tribe, said she’s “absolutely” pleased with the project.

“Not only did we get the trail back up and that transportation corridor open again, but we improved salmon habitat and the ability for the river to move through that area in a more natural way,” she said.

The $2.5 million project replaced the structurally unsound wooden trestle with a 750-foot steel pedestrian foot bridge. A total of 180 creosote pilings were removed as well as 166-feet of railroad grade from the floodplain.

“It’s beautiful and functional,” Nesse said.

A variety of funding sources paid for the project, including funds from the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration, Washington Department of Ecology’s Flood Plains by Design, Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal Highway Administration and the Peninsula Trails Coalition.

Construction is weather dependent and planned for early 2016, but an additional $100,000 contribution from the First Federal Community Foundation will be used to re-deck the 150-foot historical Howe Truss bridge and corresponding ramp on the eastern side of the river.

“We wouldn’t be able to finish the project the way we want to without that contribution and support,” Nesse said.

Beyond the outstanding plans to re-deck the bridge and ramp, installation of both a handrail and tribal artwork selected to be integrated into the concrete decking, the new bridge is “basically done,” Nesse said.

To publicly celebrate the new and improved river crossing, a grand opening ceremony has been scheduled for 1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Railroad Bridge Park.