New bike and pedestrian bridge under construction
A new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Pacific Avenue in Olympia will complete the Bridging the Gap project for Thurston County’s popular Chehalis Western Trail.
Lacey resident and Washington Bikes board member Bob Duffy reports:
After many years of planning, funding, designing and environmental & community review, the Chehalis Western Trail, a major bicycle/pedestrian trail in Thurston County, will receive a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge across Pacific Avenue in the City of Olympia.
The Pacific Avenue crossing will close the last gap in the trail and greatly benefit all trail users. Bridges have been previously constructed over the other two trail gaps – Interstate 5 and Martin Way.
This project was lead by Thurston County. Construction is currently underway on the $4.7 million project and completion is slated in fall of 2014. The new bridge will make it a breeze to spin over and past the previously confusing and potentially more dangerous surface street trail alignment.
The 22-mile Chehalis Western Trail travels north-south through the heart of Thurston County. It connects to the Woodland Greenway Trail and the Yelm-Tenino Trail, and serves as the centerpiece of the county’s regional trail system. Check the county website to learn more about Thurston County Trails.
