Fortunato To Host Townhall In Enumclaw Next Week

ENUMCLAW, WA — Next Monday, the Enumclaw Fire Department will host a town hall featuring Sen. Phil Fortunato and Rep. Drew Stokesbary, who are expected to discuss transportation and a project to fix traffic issues at the White River trestle bridge.

Fortunato previously secured funding in the state's 2017 transportation budget for a traffic study of the SR 410 corridor. As part of that study, Fortunato proposed adding a two-lane bridge to relieve traffic at the White River trestle bridge.

Washington State transportation officials currently suggest adding the additional lanes in 2040, but Fortunato says that's too long from now.

"It should not take 22 years to get an additional two-lane bridge over White River," Fortunato said in a statement. "The current trestle is vulnerable to damage and causes major traffic problems if there's a closure. I need the help of engaged constituents to get this project started sooner."

At the Dec. 10 meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 1330 Wells St. in Enumclaw Fortunado and Stokesbary will share the results of that study with constituents who may be affected by the project. The statesmen will also provide updates on the Spiketon and Enumclaw bridge projects.

"Representatives Irwin, Stokesbary, and I were successful in fighting to move up the Spiketon bridge replacement from 2022 to 2019 with the help of engaged constituents," he said. "I'm hoping we can do the same for the Buckley Enumclaw Bridge."

The Spiketon Bridge was permanently closed in late summer after Washington State Department of Transportation officials discovered pier settlement during survey work to evaluate repairs. The cost of repairing the aging bridge was reportedly too steep to justify the investment, so state officials closed the bridge and put detours in place until a viable solution could be found.

Just up the road at the White River Bridge, state officials this past summer paid $2.8 million and contracted a company to paint the bridge for the first time since 1988.

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Image via Washington State Department of Transportation