Richmond Beach Saltwater Park pedestrian bridge work resumes but bridge is unsafe for use

From the City of Shoreline

The BNSF Railway flaggers required to complete the portion of the Richmond Beach Saltwater Park pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks arrived on site Monday, March 23, allowing the contractor to resume work.

The current schedule has project completion set for the end of April. However, completion is still dependent upon the ongoing availability of railroad flagging crews. While the City and BNSF have worked out a schedule, unforeseen incidents, such as natural landslides that close the tracks elsewhere, may require BNSF to pull flaggers for emergency assistance, possibly delaying the completion of the bridge project.

In order to take advantage of the flaggers current availability, the work schedule has been modified to allow work to begin at 6:00am instead of 7:00am. Crews will still be required to complete their work by 6:00pm every day. The modification will also allow work on Saturdays between 7:00am and 6:00pm.

The current condition of the bridge is UNSAFE. It and the beach area will remain CLOSED to public access. 

Crossing private property without permission and crossing the railroad tracks to access the beach are illegal. Shoreline Police will continue patrols of the park and access points to the beach to ensure individuals are not illegally accessing the bridge or the beach.

While the City's goal is to complete the project by the end of April and open the bridge, the number one priority for the City, the contractor, BNSF, and the public during construction continues to be safety. We want to ensure that construction crews, railroad crews, and park users are safe.

The repairs and upgrades are necessary to maintain a safe bridge and allow continued access for emergency and maintenance vehicles. Completion of these repairs will extend the life of the bridge 20 or more years at a fraction of what it would cost to replace the bridge.

More information here or call 206-801-2700.