After over a year of construction, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can now use a new bridge spanning Whipple Creek outside of Ridgefield.
Clark County Public works has opened the new 10th Avenue Bridge to traffic as of Thursday afternoon, according to a county press release.
The 450-foot-long bridge stands about 48 feet above Whipple Creek and was undertaken to improve the flow of traffic by creating another north-south roadway in the area. It includes shoulders, bike lanes, sidewalks and stormwater runoff facilities.
The project was also undertaken to accommodate anticipated development nearby and to relieve congestion associated with large events at the nearby Sunlight Supply Amphitheater or at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. Previously, many drivers had to use the 179th Street interchange from Interstate 5.
Although some final touches are being put on the bridge that could result in occasional single-lane closures, the bridge will remain open to traffic, according to a county news release. Included in the work that needs to be wrapped up are a couple of sidewalk sections on its west side. The sidewalk on the bridge’s east side will be open to pedestrians until work is finished.
The project’s general contractor was Cascade Bridge LLC of Vancouver, which was awarded a $14.62 million contract by the county. Construction began in May of 2017.
The county received state and federal money for the project. According to a county news release, Clark Public Utilities contributed approximately $1.05 million to the project for a water line on the bridge, and Clark Regional Wastewater District contributed approximately $900,000 for a wastewater line. Additionally, the district also built a sewer pump station and a sewer main line to extend service into the area, as part of a broader $3.4 million investment in the Northeast 10th Avenue corridor.
According to a county news release, Public Works expects to begin construction in 2020 on widening and improving Northeast 10th Avenue from Northeast 149th Street to Northeast 154th, a project that’s similarly intended to improve transportation infrastructure in the area.
