Since last Monday’s bridge strike on the SR 410 White River Bridge, I have been in constant communication with state and local officials to identify ways to provide relief to our community. While the bridge, which remains closed, is under the under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), King County must use every tool at its disposal to alleviate the considerable pressures residents are facing.
Below are several updates from the past week. These updates highlight not just my office’s efforts, but also the work of city, county, state, and community leaders who have pulled together to support our neighbors during this challenging time.
Crews inspect damage on the White River Bridge (Photo Courtesy of WSDOT)
New timeline announced by WSDOT
WSDOT will fabricate and install five temporary braces on the bridge along the panels of the structure. These braces work similar to a splint or cast for a broken bone. The brace works alongside the damaged section, so the load doesn’t rest on the weakened component alone. WSDOT plans to install each brace as it is fabricated.
Once the braces are in place, which should be by mid-to-late September, the intent is to reopen a single lane of the bridge to alternating traffic. Traffic would move down the centerline of the bridge and be controlled by temporary traffic signals at each end, similar to what is currently in place on the SR 169 Dan Evans/Green River Bridge.
Read the latest update from WSDOT here.
Metro Route 915 service extended to Foothills Trail Bridge
I’m pleased to announce that, while the state works on structural repairs to the White River Bridge, King County Metro’s DART Route 915 will extend service to the Foothills Trail Bridge.
I want to give my sincere thanks to Executive Braddock, and everyone at King County Metro, for working with my office and providing this desperately needed assistance to our community.
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Route 915 will travel farther south than usual to provide service to the Foothills Trail Bridge. This pedestrian-only bridge connects Buckley and Enumclaw and is roughly 100 yards from the State Route 410 White River Bridge. The extended route will be in place on Aug. 28, Aug. 29, Sept. 2, and Sept. 3, during commuting hours, before expanding to all weekday trips from Sept. 4 onward. |
Riders can board at any Route 915 bus stop, including Enumclaw Middle School (550 Semanski St S), where free parking is available.
During the scheduled times listed here, DART Route 915 will travel from Enumclaw Middle School to the Foothills Trail Bridge, before traveling on to the Enumclaw Aquatic Center, back to the middle school, and on to regular DART Route 915 stops northbound.
The schedule is available on Metro’s website. This service is not provided on holidays or weekends.
Proclamations of Emergency
I spoke with Governor Ferguson on Wednesday regarding the extreme hardship our residents who utilize the White River Bridge are facing. I want to thank him for responding to the concerns of our community and issuing an emergency proclamation this week. The proclamation allows the state to seek federal funds to reimburse the current and future work underway to repair the bridge.
On Saturday, King County Executive Shannon Braddock issued a Proclamation of Emergency as well. This order will allow the county to waive procurement requirements and authorize overtime for King County employees responding to the emergency. It also authorizes 24-hour operations for the Foothills Trail Pedestrian Bridge for emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
I applaud the Executive for working diligently with state, local, and county leadership to issue this emergency proclamation and address the needs of our community. You can read the full text of the proclamation here: Emergency Proclamation re SR 410 Bridge_08 23 25.pdf.
Help us gather information for a Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration request
King County is coordinating with the City of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce to gather information needed for the Governor to request a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This would enable affected small businesses to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is requesting that businesses who have experienced a decline in sales since the closure please share the below information with them. They will compile and forward this info to the City for submission to the State.
Owner Info: Name, Phone (work & home), Email, Mailing Address
Business Info: Business Name, Type, Street Address, Landlord Info (if applicable)
Economic Impact: Dates of Impact, Revenue During Impact & Last Year, Estimated Revenue Without Disaster, Insurance Received, How the Closure Affected Your Business
Employment Info: Employees Before and After the Closure
Additional Notes: Any Other Comments
There is more work to do, and I will continue to collaborate with county, state, and local leaders to find creative solutions and provide relief to affected residents.
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I’ve heard from many neighbors in Mirrormont and Maple Hills about the chip seal paving work being done by King County Roads. I’ve contacted the Roads Department and am sharing their latest update with my office below.
Update from King County Roads: Here’s a quick overview of what chip seal is, how it works, and why it’s different from overlay paving.
Chip Seal
- Asphalt mixed with water is sprayed on the road.
- A layer of small crushed gravel (chips) is spread and rolled in.
- The surface cures in 1–2 days, then loose gravel is swept away.
- Helps seal small cracks, improves traction, and extends road life.
Overlay
- A fresh, thick layer of asphalt is paved directly on top of the old surface.
- Smooth, strong, and long-lasting, but more expensive.
Why chip seal here? With limited funding, chip seal allows King County Roads to preserve more miles of roadway across unincorporated King County. While overlay is more durable, it’s also much more costly. Chip seal is a practical way to keep neighborhood roads safe and functional.
Addressing common concerns:
- Crews sweep up loose gravel after the curing process.
- We work to protect driveway connections and drainage.
- Feedback from residents helps us improve coordination with contractors on current and future projects.
- Please drive slowly in the work area do avoid kicking up loose gravel.
Additional resources to stay informed:
- Sign up for Road Alerts to receive an email or text message when Road Services work is scheduled in your community.
- Visit the MyCommute Map to see current and upcoming road work projects in unincorporated King County.
- Contact the 24/7 Road Helpline at 206-477-8100 (Relay 711) or email roads@kingcounty.gov to report an issue on the road.
- Check out the Road Resurfacing website to learn about the 2025 projects
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