North Bend to close rotting Alm Way bridge
Published 6:35 pm Wednesday, December 11, 2013
North Bend is permanently closing a small, 60-year-old bridge on the west side of the city.
The city plans to post a number of signs and shut the Alm Way Bridge, over Gardiner Creek, next week.
About a half dozen homes are on the west side of Alm Way, which runs roughly parallel to North Bend Way on the west end of city limits.
The King County Roads Department recently inspected local bridges, and found trouble at the Alm Way structure, recommending its closure to traffic.
The bridge is 16 feet long, and was built in 1951. It’s too small to qualify for federal grants for repair. The concrete has deteriorated in many areas, which has exposed some of the rebar, making it susceptible to corrosion, according to a city engineer. The substructure, all timber, is showing signs of severe rot.
Alm Way will still be accessible from North Bend Way but as the area for vehicles to turn around is limited, truck traffic will be prohibited except for essential local deliveries.
Currently, the city has no plans to demolish the bridge.
