A tree fell on this Bellingham park foot bridge almost 3 years ago. It’s finally been repaired
The bridge over Chuckanut Creek in Bellingham’s Arroyo Park has been repaired and is now open after being closed for almost three years.
The bridge was damaged in January 2021 after a tree fell on it during a winter storm.
The tree broke several wooden stringers, making the bridge unsafe for pedestrians to cross. To make the necessary repairs, the city had to remove and replace these stringers with steel girders and have the bridge redecked. New handrails were also installed with a standard wire mesh panel on the handrail, according to previous reporting by The Bellingham Herald.
The project required a handful of permits, which delayed the repair time.
The new bridge is expected to last generations while protecting local salmon populations in Chuckanut Creek, according to the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. Chuckanut Creek runs through the park for about half of a mile.
The project cost $560,000 and was paid for using Greenway Levy Funds, a voter-approved tax measure.
Arroyo Park makes up 85 acres in the South Neighborhood of Bellingham. It can be accessed off Chuckanut Drive and Old Samish Road or via the Interurban Greenway Trail system. The park acts as the north gateway to recreation in the Chuckanut Mountains and Larrabee State Park.
