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King County Parks opens a scenic bridge crossing the White River to connect King County and Pierce County communities with 22 miles of paved trail
Summary
Sept. 30, 2024: King County Parks’ new weathered steel bridge crosses the White River to connect two completed segments of the 22-mile Foothills Trail with scenic views of Mount Rainier.
News
King County Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock on Saturday joined partners to open a new steel bridge that crosses the White River to connect King County and Pierce County communities with 22 miles of uninterrupted paved trail.
The 572-foot-long weathered steel bridge – funded primarily by the King County Parks Levy – completes Foothills Trail, connecting 280,000 residents, schools, business districts, and civic centers while offering scenic views of Mount Rainier. The trail runs along the Carbon River, passing through farmland and forestland.
"Our new scenic trail bridge strengthens connections on both sides of the White River, making it faster, healthier, and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get to popular destinations,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “With road, rail and regional trail networks, we’re knitting together the Central Puget Sound region with convenient mobility options that cross county boundaries."
In addition to connecting King County and Pierce County cities – Enumclaw, Buckley, South Prairie, Orting, and Puyallup – the new trail bridge offers an alternative emergency route for pedestrians and vehicles if State Route 410 across the White River is damaged during a catastrophic event.
The $16 million capital project included design, construction, and contingency costs with $12.8 million in funds generated by the voter-approved King County Parks Levy and additional contributions from the City of Buckley and Pierce County. Other funding partners included the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition.
“After many years of collaborative work between governments and communities, I’m excited to be celebrating the opening of this new bridge – the missing link along the Foothills Trail that now connects communities across King and Pierce counties,” said King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “With this new trail segment, folks will not only have more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our region, but will also have another mode of access to surrounding businesses and other amenities.”
Completing Foothills Trail contributes to the Leafline Trails Network, a coalition connecting King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties with an integrated regional trail system.
King County Parks has completed major trail projects over the past year. In June, Executive Constantine opened a steel trail bridge that connects Eastrail to Sound Transit’s Wilburton Station in Bellevue. In 2023, King County Parks completed the final segment of East Lake Sammamish Trail, contributing to the 44-mile Locks to Lake Corridor.
Our new scenic trail bridge strengthens connections on both sides of the White River, making it faster, healthier, and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get to popular destinations. With road, rail and regional trail networks, we’re knitting together the Central Puget Sound region with convenient mobility options that cross county boundaries.
After many years of collaborative work between governments and communities, I’m excited to be celebrating the opening of this new bridge — the missing link along the Foothills Trail that now connects communities across King and Pierce counties. With this new trail segment, folks will not only have more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our region, but will also have another mode of access to surrounding businesses and other amenities.
Contact
Eleanor Lee, King County Parks, 206-477-4530