The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is seeking public input to replace the historic Fryingpan Creek Bridge and to address findings from a 2020 report identifying structural deficiencies.
The bridge is vital to park operations, local economies and is essential to visitor use and the enjoyment of the park, stated a news release from Mount Rainier National Park. The environmental assessment evaluates the impacts of replacing the existing bridge located in the northeast portion of the park along Sunrise Road. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, commonly known as NEPA, the park must now solicit public comment on the project.
The bridge provides the only vehicular access from Mather Memorial Parkway (state Route 410) to the Sunrise Developed Area and White River Campground. It “needs to be replaced to provide for safe and sustainable public and administrative access,” per the release.
The replacement project assessment is available for review and public comment through May 7 at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/FryingpanCreekBridgeEA.
The assessment evaluates three alternatives for Fryingpan Creek Bridge, including a no-action plan, a plan where a new, longer and wider permanent bridge would be constructed approximately 50 feet downstream from the existing bridge and, in the final alternative, a new bridge would be constructed on the existing alignment. A summary presentation is available on the project website.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12. Staff from the National Park Service and highway administration will provide information about the project and will be available to answer questions. Visit the project website for more information about the project alternatives, potential impacts to park resources and to find a link for the meeting. After the meeting, the park service will post the meeting recording to the website.
All comments, including personally identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. Although respondents may request that their comments and personal information are withheld from public review, the park cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm.
