New King County Parks bridge connects Eastrail to Sound Transit’s Wilburton Station, offering safe, convenient access to trail and rail in Bellevue

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King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dow Constantine on Sunday led a celebration in Bellevue to open a new King County Parks trail bridge that connects Eastrail to Sound Transit’s Wilburton Station. 

The 500-foot-long, 16-foot-wide trail bridge crosses Northeast 8th Street – one of the busiest city streets on the Eastside – to safely connect pedestrians and cyclists of all abilities to the emerging 42-mile Eastrail and Sound Transit’s 2 Line.

"Connecting Eastrail to Sound Transit light rail is a landmark achievement for the integrated mobility network we’re building for the people of Central Puget Sound,” said Executive Constantine. “We’re making it safer and easier to combine trail and rail to enjoy many of the best opportunities and experiences our vibrant region has to offer.” 

The trail bridge features distinctive metal cladding on both sides and large art and poetry installations that honor the Japanese-American history of the location led by a community-based organization, Isan Bellevue.

“These art installations bring to light important local history that has been overlooked for too long,” said King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci. “They help tell the story of Japanese Americans in Bellevue, from hard work, prosperity, and community to discrimination, incarceration, and resilience. It’s been an honor to help guide this project from its inception to fruition and I am deeply grateful to Isan Bellevue and the Japanese community, as well as our partners at King County Parks, for leading this powerful effort to uplift the stories of the Japanese American community that helped shape the City of Bellevue.”

The north end of the trail bridge offers ground-level access to Wilburton Station, which Sound Transit opened in April.

The $32 million project was largely funded by the voter-approved King County Parks Levy along with $3 million from Sound Transit’s System Access Fund, which provides funds for improvements that make it easier and more convenient for people to get to Sound Transit and partner transit services. King County Metro’s RapidRide B Line provides direct service to and from Wilburton Station, and Metro Routes 226 and 250 have bus stops less than a half-mile away.

“This is an exciting day for Sound Transit passengers who can now reach the Wilburton Station directly on foot or bicycle,” said Sound Transit Interim CEO Goran Sparrman. “Through our System Access Fund, Sound Transit has contributed $3 million to this project – one of the largest awards through this program, which funds improvements to make it easier and more convenient for people to get to transit."

The heritage display features artwork that recognizes and preserves the legacy of the Japanese-American farming community of Bellevue. The trail bridge is located on the former site of the Bellevue Growers Association Packing and Shipping Warehouse, which was used by the Japanese-American farming community until Japanese internment by the federal government in 1942.

"Isan Bellevue thanks King County for the opportunity to share the Bellevue Japanese American story through art and poetry," said Isan Bellevue Board Member Amy Hirotaka. "We look forward to further collaboration as we continue planning emotionally impactful experiences to honor this rich and important regional history."

The trail bridge is expected to accommodate a growing number of commuters in the coming years as the City of Bellevue activates a redevelopment initiative known as Wilburton Vision that capitalizes on the addition of Eastrail and Sound Transit Link light rail.

“We are delighted to have this new connection providing a safe path for people to get around the growing Wilburton neighborhoosured as well as connecting to light rail and our trail system,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “Eastrail, along with our future Grand Connection Crossing, will activate this area and give further reason for people to live, work and play in the heart of Bellevue.”