News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  June 29, 2007

Upcoming bridge project will close North Fork Road Southeast

Wagners Bridge, which carries North Fork Road Southeast over the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River about 10 miles northeast of North Bend, will be closed for construction from Monday, July 9 through November. The road is a popular access point to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for hikers and recreationalists.

The one-lane bridge was built 30 years ago with untreated timber, and is now deteriorating. It has a restricted load capacity and is vulnerable to damage by floods and earthquakes. The King County Road Services Division will build a concrete girder bridge on the same location and alignment as the existing bridge. The new bridge will be built to current safety standards, will support legal highway loads, and will span the 100-year flood plain.

While the bridge is closed, motorists can purchase a vehicle access permit to the Hancock Forest Management Group's private road network to get into the public recreation areas beyond the bridge. For information about the vehicle permit call Julie Stangell at (360) 879-5823. Vehicle permits are also available for sale at the Ace Hardware in North Bend. There is also access to the Alpine Lakes area on Forest Service roads from the north and east.

For more information about the project, visit the project Website.