June 26, 2024

Senators Cantwell and Murray deliver $25M for Eastrail crossing above I-90

Images via King County [enlarge]

The federal money will cover about half the $49 million cost of renovating the I-90 span; and the 1.7 miles at grade, north and south of the bridge, that are presently unpaved.

Eastrail, the old railroad line gradually being converted to a bike-pedestrian path, is advancing in fits and starts. From Renton to the Snohomish County line, about 16 discontinuous miles of the 42-mile Eastside trail have been completed to date.

But a major unfunded gap now appears to have been plugged, with King County's announcement yesterday of $25 million in federal funding. That RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation came courtesy of Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray, and will be mostly used to retrofit the so-called Steel Bridge across Interstate 90.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement, “Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell have delivered a victory for regional trails, climate, mobility and opportunity. The Biden administration appreciates that investing in regional trails creates and connects sustainable, healthy communities with new access to high-capacity transit.”

Sen. Murray said, “This major federal investment will help King County close the Eastrail I-90 gap while building out a shared use path that everyone can enjoy.”

Sen. Cantwell added, “The funds announced today are the final link connecting the north and south segments of this beautiful trail, giving Eastside residents a 42-mile pathway to walk and enjoy.”

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The rails and ties still remain on the dotted orange sections also to be paved by 2031.

The news comes soon after King County announced a start to construction at the Wilburton Trestle, a few miles north, where Kraemer North America will rehabilitate that mostly wooden structure. Work should wrap there in two years, allowing a connection to the new Northeast Eighth Street bridge, which opened this month next to Wilburton Station.

The new federal money will cover about half the $49 million cost of renovating the graffiti-covered I-90 span; and the 1.7 miles at grade, north and south of the bridge, that are presently unpaved.

The balance of funding will come from the county and state (amounting to $14 million), plus $10 million from future unspecified sources.

The old steel bridge spans 16 lanes of traffic. Using Google Maps, it looks to be about 500 feet long. It was stoutly constructed by BNSF many decades ago.

South of the I-90 bridge, the pavement north from Renton now ends near Coal Creek. Two small wooden trestles, one at Southeast 32th Street, may also need some minor work.

North of the bridge, tracks will also be removed and pavement added to connect with Eastrail's new Interstate 405 crossing. (That was done on a separate WSDOT budget, as part of the I-405 widening project.) That won't open until 2026 or so, likely in concert with the Wilburton section.

King County Parks will administer the I-90 bridge and gap project, which has no designer or structural engineer attached at this time. Per the county's project website, preliminary design should start late this year, then continue with SEPA review into 2027. Construction bidding might begin in 2028, with work to begin late that year. If all goes well, the new segment could open in 2031, linking Renton to Totem Lake.

The county estimates that some $265 million has been spent on Eastrail improvements over the past 15 years.