Contributed by North Bend

Earlier this month, two North Bend businesses – Rainier Asphalt & Concrete and Fury Site Works – donated time, equipment and materials to improve and expand the eastern portion of Tanner Trail, which runs parallel to North Bend Way.

Rainier Asphalt & Concrete constructed a 400-foot long extension to Tanner Trail and Fury Site Works installed conduit adjacent to the new trail section for future lighting. In the coming years, it is anticipated that the City will extend Tanner Trail even farther east to eventually connect to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail.

This is the second trail donation made by Rainier Asphalt, which also installed a 200-foot trail connection between the William H. Taylor Train Depot Park and Park Street in 2019.

Rainier Asphalt owner Tom Merry, who has lived in North Bend since 2008, said the donations are a way to invest in the community he lives in and loves. In 2017, Merry wrote a letter to former North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing suggesting a company initiative to provide up to $20,000 annually to the City of North Bend in Rainier Asphalt services to help improve the community.

Merry said this latest trail donation took a little longer than anticipated due to weather events and Covid-19, but he was once again glad to contribute something for the community to enjoy.

Mayor Rob McFarland commented, “We are grateful to have these two local companies that strive for community involvement and find ways for their businesses to benefit the residents of North Bend. Their generosity is truly appreciated.”

Rainier Asphalt just celebrated its 20th-anniversary and was started by Merry while he was still a student at the University of Washington. The company is planning to build its new headquarters on North Bend Way in the near future. Fury Site Works was founded 30-years ago and is headquartered on North Bend Way. Fury specializes in clearing, grading, excavation, and site layout work.