Project Facts
- The new bridge is taller and wider, and located downstream from its current location.
- On average, about 1,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge. Once traffic is shifted to the new bridge, the old bridge will be demolished.
- The new pedestrian path on the bridge will connect with the Whatcom County Bay to Baker Trail.
May 2008
- Both lanes of SR 542 are open through the work zone on the old bridge.
- Construction began in June and is scheduled to finish this year.
- The new bridge is built. Remaining work includes finishing the approaches, drainage work, and demolishing the old bridge.
Overview
We will replace the existing Boulder Creek Bridge with a wider, higher bridge designed to current safety standards.
Why is WSDOT
replacing the Boulder Creek bridge?
Nearly every year, flooding and debris cover the bridge and cut off access to Glacier-area residents and to drivers headed to the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Floods and debris torrents buried the bridge 11 times between 1962 and 1989. More recently, the bridge was buried during 2003 and 2006 rainstorms. In March, high water eroded sediment under the bridge, opening a small sinkhole in the highway.
Following the 2003 storm, crews removed about 2,059 cubic yards of sediment from the creek to clear the channel under the bridge.
Standards have changed since the existing bridge was built in 1952.
The End Result
The new bridge should reduce flooding problems and resulting highway closures, reduce maintenance, improve fish habitat and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Project Benefits
- Flooding: the taller bridge will help prevent flooding problems and keep the road open to drivers in extreme weather situations.
- Bicycle/pedestrian path: the bridge will include a 10-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path that links to the Bay to Baker Trail. A barrier will separate the bridge path from traffic.
- The new bridge is 44 feet wide with 4-foot shoulders and the bike lane. The current bridge is only 27.3 feet wide.
- Fish: The new bridge should reduce maintenance required to keep the bridge and creek channel clear and improve fish habitat that is buried repeatedly by sediment. Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout – all species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, are among the fish that use Boulder Creek.
What is the project timeline?
- Summer 2008 - finish construction.
- June 2007 - started construction.
- May 2007 - awarded project contract to contractor Pacific Road & Bridge Co.
- March 2007 - advertised project contractor to contractors.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have comments or questions, please e-mail Dustin Terpening.
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Environmental Protection
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impacts from our projects. During project design, WSDOT will work to reduce the impact to wetlands, creeks and rivers that could be in the project area.
A detailed analysis of the project's environmental impacts will be completed and, if necessary, an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts will be developed and documented as part of the environmental documentation and environmental permitting processes.
About 83 trees cleared during construction will be donated to the Nooksack Indian tribe for use in habitat and stream projects. Fourteen trees are going to the Lummi Nation.
Mitigation measures include removing 300 to 400 feet of asphalt from a section of old, abandoned highway north of SR 542, and replacing a culvert in a nearby stream that acts as a barrier to fish.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The new bridge will be built to current WSDOT safety standards. Its design and new location will reduce flooding problems. It will be safer for vehicle and pedestrian traffic because the lanes will be wider and the pedestrians and cyclists using the path will be protected by a barrier.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
We will consult with tribes and other interested parties as we develop this project.
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
To learn more about the tribal consultation process please visit WSDOT's Tribal Liaison page, where you'll find links to WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan and WSDOT's Tribal Consultation Policy (Adopted by the Transportation Commission on Feb. 19, 2003).
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
- 2005 gas tax (Partnership Funding) - $500,000
- Existing funds - $6.8 million
- Total funding available from all sources - $7.3 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer Chris Damitio
Bellingham Project Engineering Office
450 Stuart Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 360-788-7400
E-mail: Damitic@wsdot.wa.gov
Communications Dustin Terpening
WSDOT Mt. Baker Headquarters
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98233-3415
Phone: 360-757-5997
E-mail: Terpenid@wsdot.wa.gov
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