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Council directs staff to upgrade five Yelm Hydroelectric canal bridges; approves funding plan
Summary
Council voted 7–0 to direct staff to implement a plan to upgrade five aging canal bridges to allow unrestricted vehicle access (including fire apparatus); staff estimated the project cost at about $1 million and said City Light reserves would cover the work with no rate increase.
The City Council on April 22 directed staff to proceed with improvements to five bridges on the Yelm Hydroelectric canal so they can safely carry heavier vehicles, including fire apparatus.
Staff and presenters explained the history: 15 bridges built in 1929–30 provide farm access across the 9.1-mile canal and several remaining spans were rated by Sargent Engineers at about 13–15 tons — insufficient for modern fire trucks and large service vehicles. The city reconstructed the Lindsay Spooner Bridge to remove load restrictions; Sargent Engineers has designed a similar foundation-and-deck upgrade for the remaining five bridges.
Terry Page and other presenters described the proposed approach: install concrete foundations in the canal bottom, add steel supports and…
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