Prairie Line Trail bridge work progressing; parks committee targets September opening

City parks staff on Aug. 19 told the Yelm Planning Commission that construction work on the Prairie Line Trail bridge is underway, that precast concrete planks will be installed across the rail segment and that new safety barriers will be added to prevent falls from the bridge.

A parks committee representative said the bid has been issued and construction steps are in progress; staff described the method of setting precast planks on the existing rail and adding barriers to improve safety and prevent children from falling. "It should be finished by September, and we're hoping to have an opening day," a parks speaker said.

Staff emphasized the trail will provide river overlooks and new recreation access; once complete, they said they will request Thurston County map updates so county maps show the trail crossing the Nisqually River. The commission did not take a formal vote on the trail at the meeting; staff requested commissioner review of the parks chapter and asked for comments at least one week before the next meeting so the parks committee could incorporate feedback.

Why it matters: The Prairie Line Trail bridge work is a discrete capital improvement that will add a continuous trail connection and viewpoints across the Nisqually River and is included in the city—s capital and parks planning.