by ALANA LINDEROTH
Sequim Gazette
Flood conditions and runaway debris first compromised the aged trestle that supports the 100-year-old bridge across the Dungeness River within Railroad Bridge Park on Feb. 6. Since, six pilings have been lost to the force of the river.
In response, county authorities closed the portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail on either side of the bridge and crews from Jamestown Excavating assessed the damage endured by the trestle, but there’s no definite timeline as to when the bridge will be passable again.
Clallam County Engineer Ross Tyler, who accompanied those assessing the damage “suspects they (Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe officials) would like to get the bridge open by June or July when trail use increases.”
Draft plans for both short- and long-term repairs are under way, but Powell Jones, Dungeness River Audubon Center director, said, until the water recedes officials won’t be able to get a full understanding of the damage.
Depending on funding, Jones hopes the damage may create an opportunity to redesign a structure or make repairs that would be conducive to the river and allow it to flow as freely as possible. However, the primary objective is to “secure what’s left,” he said.
Beyond simply reducing damage and safety, there’s an environmental health incentive to secure what’s remaining given some the supporting logs at risk of washing away are creosote-treated.
Additionally, because the Dungeness River is a habitat for species listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, including Puget Sound chinook, Hood Canal chum, winter steelhead and bull trout, Dave Lasorsa, environmental coordinator with Clallam County Public Works, said, permits required to work within the water can be more complex and timely to get.
But, from a repair perspective, older railroad trestles are a simple design, thus once through the permitting process the actual repairs are fairly straightforward, Tyler explained.
“It’s repairable,” he said. “This is not something that hasn’t happened before.”
Until the bridge is reopened, Olympic Discovery Trail users can use two alternative routes, Jeff Bohman, president of the Peninsula Trails Coalition, said. Although county and city officials have yet to agree on the preferred alternate route, Bohman said the favored route seems to be southern route along U.S. Highway 101 versus of the northern alternative along Old Olympic Highway.
“Once there is a decision made on the preferred route we’ll (Peninsula Trails Coalition officials) help post signs or get the word out for users,” Bohman said.
Although, it’s a “priority” to get the Olympic Discovery Trail open, right now officials are “just trying to figure out how to fund it and how to fix it,” Jones said.
Because the park is privately owned, federal and/or state financial support may be sought, but is not a given, Jones explained.
The property of the park belongs to the Jamestown S’Klallam, but the tribe and those with the Dungeness River Audubon Center, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society all partner to maintain the park.
To help raise funds for trestle repair, contact staff at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, at 681-4076, or visit the website dungenessrivercenter.org.
For updated Olympic Discovery Trail status announcements, visit www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com/planning_info/trail_status.html.
Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
