Local bicyclist recounts serious injury on Thompson Road bridge; committee considers signage and surface fixes

Nancy Beal told the Clallam County Trails Advisory Committee that she suffered a severe leg injury on Oct. 30, 2024, after her bike hit raised metal grooves on the narrow, repurposed metal bridge on Thompson Road, which carries the Olympic Discovery Trail. She said the crash required two surgeries and left metal plates and screws in her leg.

"I went flying, broke my leg so badly," Beal said, describing ongoing pain and permanent changes to her leg following the surgery. She urged the committee to do more than post small signs: paint the raised metal areas bright yellow, add clearer "bikes must dismount" or cautionary signage on both approaches, and, if possible, smooth or fill the recessed grooves so the surface is not hazardous.

Committee staff and members acknowledged the seriousness of her injury and discussed near-term and longer-term options. Will Hable said the county has placed advisory signs on the bridge and staff can order a larger reflective sleeve and flags for the signpost. "We're going to order a reflective sheath for this pole," Hable said, adding flags and a larger sign face could be used to draw attention.

Members stressed limits on what the county can do without owner permission. Committee members and staff repeatedly noted the bridge is privately owned and the county holds an easement for trail use; physical work on the structure — filling grooves, paving the deck or adding guardrail — would require permission from the owners and likely engineering review because paving could change load characteristics.

Near-term measures the committee agreed to pursue were brighter, more visible signage (a reflective sleeve, flags and possibly a different sign face) and exploring low-cost visual mitigations such as painting raised areas, subject to owner consent. Longer-term remedies discussed included pursuing permission to fill or resurface the bridge or to construct a new, separate crossing in the future as trail alignment work proceeds.

The committee asked staff to consult the county sign manual and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for acceptable sign options and to report back on what is feasible without structural work. Hable said he would coordinate with the engineering and sign crews and return to the committee with options and updates.

The committee emphasized that while signage is a short-term step, physical fixes would require owner approval and additional study; Nancy Beal said painting the raised elements and improving signage would be a useful immediate step to reduce the risk of repeat injuries.

The committee will follow up with staff reports on sign improvements and will explore whether owner permission can be obtained for any physical surface remediation or a longer-term replacement solution.