Snoqualmie outlines River Trail progress; construction begun, limited flood impacts reported
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Summary
City parks staff told the Economic Development Commission the River Trail construction began in November, work survived a recent flood with only modest silt-fence and foundation repairs needed, and officials expect visible summer progress toward opening.
Dylan Gamble, a Parks and Public Works project lead, told the Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission that construction of the River Trail began in November and is currently focused on clearing, soft-surface trail work and bridge foundations. "We began construction in November," Gamble said, and reported that while recent flooding damaged silt fencing and required clean-up, "the trail wasn't really damaged" and contractors are repairing bridge foundations.
Gamble described the project as guided by the Riverwalk Master Plan, a planning-level document that sets long-term goals but not final engineering. He showed maps of the route — which loops near Kimball Creek and uses an historic rail grade for portions of the alignment — and emphasized the work is being phased from currently-funded sections in the city’s capital improvement program. "This is the planning document; these are not bridge designs," he said, stressing that some conceptual elements may not be built in their shown form.
On construction status, Gamble said crews have mostly completed soft-surface trail elements and foundation work for two pedestrian bridges spanning wetlands. He acknowledged flood-related impacts to erosion controls and the need to clear logs and replace silt fencing but said the project continues: "We had some impacts... the company's been out there repairing all the silt fencing that was damaged," he said. Asked about an opening target, he declined to promise a date but said optimistically the trail should be visible as a trail by summer and added, "I expect us to have made pretty gosh darn good progress by the time we get to summer."
Commissioners raised access questions for Ridge residents, lighting and crossings at the parkway, and whether the bridges and surface types will support bikes; Gamble said bikes will be allowed, bridges will be limited to maintenance vehicles only and that future phases (Town Center Phase 3) would add amenities such as lighting. Mayor James Mayhew and staff clarified that sections currently under work are city-funded, that the Riverwalk Master Plan was never formally adopted as a binding council ordinance but serves as a community guide, and that community consultation (including tribal consultations) will continue as each section is advanced.
The project team plans periodic web updates and photos. Gamble said remaining weeks of work will include planting and habitat mitigation that typically follow riverside construction, and the city will hold off on opening segments until safe for public use.
