Replacing the aging approaches to the Tolt River Bridge on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail will improve public safety by increasing the currently restricted pedestrian capacity on the bridge, and by allowing access to this stretch of trail by utility and emergency vehicles.

But the significant work involved to make these upgrades – including building a new, nearly 200-foot-long approach bridge from the south and a new 32-foot-long approach bridge from the north – requires an extended closure of the trail through the south portion of Carnation and the Remlinger Farm area.

Beginning Feb. 21 and running through mid-November, all public access will be closed along a half-mile-long section of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail between Loutsis Park at Entwistle Street and Northeast 32nd Street, also called Northeast Tolt Hill Road.

Trail users are advised to use alternate routes.

King County crews will have to do extensive groundwork leading up to the construction of the two approach bridges on either side of the Tolt River, including excavation and installation of rock armor around in-water piers, and replacing dilapidated timber approaches to the bridge over the Tolt River.

The new 198-foot-long approach bridge at the south side over the floodplain will consist of a concrete driven shaft foundation system with concrete bulb-tee girders. The new 32-foot-long north approach bridge replacement will consist of a new steel-framed pier at the bank with a precast concrete deck.

The historic steel box girder spans and piers over the Tolt River itself will remain.

The Snoqualmie Valley Trail is King County’s longest trail, running alongside the Snoqualmie River for more than 31 miles. The trail goes from Duvall southeast to Rattlesnake Lake and Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed above North Bend.