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Upper Tokul Creek Bridge No. 271B Replacement Project
Project completed in Fall 2023
The new Upper Tokul Creek bridge crosses over Tokul Creek and was completed in Fall 2023.
Overview
Upper Tokul Creek Bridge No. 271B provides sole access to approximately 50 single-family homes and is also used by nearby forest and mining industry vehicles. The bridge is located less than two miles north of Snoqualmie Falls where Tokul Road SE crosses Tokul Creek. Crews replaced the old bridge with a new bridge that is 28 feet wide, complete with two 10-foot-wide travel lanes and two 4-foot-wide shoulders. Work started in fall 2022 and ended in fall 2023. This new bridge is constructed primarily from steel-reinforced concrete and built to current seismic standards. The new bridge allows unrestricted access for all vehicles including large and heavy modern fire trucks.
While safe for travel, the original 57-year-old bridge was aging and required frequent repairs. It was also quite narrow and had weight limit restrictions.
Crews first constructed a one-lane temporary bridge before starting demolition of the old bridge. Traffic was then diverted onto this bridge during construction, as it was located next to the active construction area. Once the new bridge opened to traffic, crews removed the temporary bridge and finished the project with low impact restoration work, including plantings to reduce erosion and site clean-up.
Photos
January 20, 2024 – The bridge is now officially complete after crews returned to create a bridge approach system by connecting the concrete barrier to newly installed guardrail.
July 20, 2023 – The newly paved bridge stretches across Tokul Creek and is marked with orange cones as it awaits installation of guardrail.
May 15, 2023 – Crews work to complete the new bridge deck scheduled to open to traffic in early June 2023.
March 16, 2023 – A crewmember smooths the freshly poured concrete on the new bridge deck.
March 1, 2023 – Crews put down reinforcing rebar before the concrete is poured for the new bridge deck. All traffic will continue to use the temporary bridge on the left for the duration of the project.
Feb. 7, 2023 – Crews use two large cranes to hoist the second of five massive girders for the new bridge.
Feb. 7, 2023 – It takes multiple crewmembers on each side of the new span to perfectly align the new bridge girders.
Dec. 5, 2022 – Crews will remove the final three concrete footings to complete the old bridge demolition in December 2022.
Nov. 21, 2022 – An excavator clears the footing debris from the old bridge.
Nov. 14, 2022 – Contract crew members work to remove the footings of the old bridge with the help of an excavator.
Nov. 8, 2022 – Two excavators tear down the old bridge during demolition.
Nov. 7, 2022 – Crews demolished the old bridge before they built the new permanent bridge.
Oct. 25, 2022 – Traffic shifts to the temporary bridge.
Oct. 21, 2022 – Our contractor finishes the temporary bridge on the left before the old Upper Tokul bridge on the right is removed. Photo credit to community member, Mike Smyth.
Oct. 20, 2022 – The temporary bridge gets paved before traffic switches over in late October.
Oct. 10, 2022 – Concrete abutments are placed to provide support for the new temporary bridge.
Oct. 10, 2022 – A large truck sprays water to damp down dust clouds.
Oct. 4, 2022 – Two crewmembers compact soil in preparation for the concrete abutments for the temporary bridge.
Aug. 25, 2022 – The original, narrow bridge over Tokul Creek, which is located less than two miles north of Snoqualmie Falls.