Washington State Parks will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently completed Littell Bridge along the Willapa Hills Trail over state Route 6, according to a news release.
The ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. June 23. Attendees are asked to park at the Adna Trailhead and bike or walk a mile to the ceremony, which is being held one day before the annual Ride the Willapa event that starts on June 24.
According to Washington State Parks, the bridge is meant to provide trail users a safe crossing over state Route 6 as they bike, walk or ride on horseback on the trail.
“The new bridge was built through a collaborative process between Parks and the local community to address safety concerns at the intersection of the trail and SR 6,” Washington State Parks noted in the release. “The old intersection required users to navigate a crossing that was at the same grade as the highway in an area with limited sight distance. Now, trail-goers have an overpass, so they don’t have to pause their journey to look for traffic.”
With completion of the project, the trail is usable from its eastmost trailhead in Chehalis and westward on to Pe Ell and beyond.
Washington State Parks hosted public meetings and invited trail users to weigh in on bridge designs, aesthetics and alignments. Together, the group decided on a weathering steel bridge with a concrete surface that curves over the highway.
The design of the bridge also pays homage to the local area.
The concrete on the bridge piers is stamped with the word “Littell” to recognize the unincorporated community in Lewis County where the bridge is located.
This project was completed by contractor Tapani Inc., of Battle Ground, designed by consultant Otak Inc. of Vancouver and supported by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
“Parks would also like to thank the residents who neighbor the trail for their patience throughout the construction process and the Lewis County Community Trails for their support of the project and their continued stewardship of the Willapa Hills Trail,” the release stated.
The Willapa Hills Trail is 56 miles long and relatively flat. The trail is a key segment in the cross-state trail network that spans from the Idaho border to the shores of Willapa Bay. The Willapa Hills Trail represents the western segment of the overall system.
