Non-emergency motor vehicles remain prohibited from Foothills Trail Bridge during White River Bridge closure due to safety risks, weight limits, and access for emergency responders

News

King County Parks and the King County Sheriff’s Office are reminding residents that non-emergency motorized vehicles are still prohibited on the Foothills Trail Bridge during the White River Bridge closure due to safety concerns, weight limits, and access for emergency responders. 

The recreational trail bridge located near Enumclaw does not have safety features for motorized vehicles – including motorcycles, golf carts, ATVs, and dune buggies – that can also block the 16-foot-wide trail bridge for emergency vehicles. Motor vehicles can also surpass the weight limit for the trail bridge, which was engineered to carry one emergency vehicle at a time.

Following an emergency proclamation last week by King County Executive Shannon Braddock, King County Parks installed temporary lighting for pedestrians and cyclists so it’s accessible 24 hours while WSDOT repairs the State Route 410 bridge that crosses the White River between Enumclaw and Buckley.

“Crossing the Foothills Trail Bridge on motorized vehicles is unsafe, has the potential to block emergency responders, and could exceed the weight limit for the bridge,” said King County Parks Director Warren Jimenez. “We fully realize the need for additional bridge access, which is why we installed temporary nighttime lighting. But safety remains our top priority so use must remain non-motorized, especially as we’ve seen the volume of use increase.”

“As the White River Bridge in Buckley remains closed, we implore all users of the Foothills Trail Bridge to practice courtesy and respect the law,” said Major John Pugh, King County Sheriff’s Office Precinct 3. "As always, the top priority of the King County Sheriff’s Office is public safety and will focus on the enforcement of violations if they put the public in any danger.”