No equestrian access to Snoqualmie Valley Trail at Fall City bridge replacement worksite, Sept. 5-7

Replacing a small, dilapidated bridge in Fall City this September means horseback riders who want to access King County’s Snoqualmie Valley Trails must use an alternate route Sept. 5-7.

The King County Road Services Division is about to begin work to replace the 57-year-old Rutherford Slough Bridge with a new span. The bridge provides access to the 29-mile-long Snoqualmie Valley Trail as it follows the Snoqualmie River through farmlands and open fields in eastern King County.

While temporary pedestrian access to the trail will be provided at the bridge replacement site, it’s not possible to establish a safe reroute for equestrian users. The closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Nearby access points to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail for horseback riders include the Northeast 11th Street (Griffin Creek) access off State Route 203, and the 356th Drive Southeast access off State Route 202.

The bridge closure next week is a prelude to a two- to three-week closure that is expected to start later in September when the remainder of the bridge replacement work is completed.

More information on the construction project is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/cip/ProjectDetail.aspx?CIPID=200107.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.