This is what’s holding up Arroyo Bridge repairs in Bellingham
The bridge in Arroyo Park in Fairhaven has been closed for more than two years and will remain closed until summer 2023 at the earliest.
Part of The Interurban Trail, the bridge crosses over Chuckanut Creek and was significantly damaged by a falling tree during a windstorm in 2020, according to Steve Janiszewski, Bellingham park operations manager.
Plans to fix the bridge were drawn up soon after the bridge was damaged, but repairs have been held up by permits, studies and salmon spawning, Janiszewski said.
Access to the bridge for repairs is also difficult due to the location of the bridge and the creek, according to the city.
“Arroyo Park and Chuckanut Mountain trails can be accessed from the North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead parking lot on Chuckanut Drive,” the city said.
The bridge has been blocked off by a fence with a yellow sign clearly stating the bridge access has been restricted and is unstable. The bridge has remained like this for two years.
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However, this has not stopped all people from using the bridge. One hiker who didn’t give his name stepped around the fence, and crossed the unstable bridge without indecent, stepping around the fence on the other side.
“It’s been out for two years, after a while, you just gotta take things into your own hands,” he said.
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