King County to install temporary bridge at Baring Bridge site to
restore reliable access for the Baring community

Baring/Skykomish Area

King County is working quickly to restore safe access and important services for people living in Baring, WA after storms and flooding in December damaged roads and bridges throughout Western Washington. To help right away, the Department of Local Services’ Road Services team and the County’s Finance and Business Operations Division fast-tracked a construction contract to build a temporary bridge. This bridge will be located just downstream from the historic Baring Bridge over the South Fork Skykomish River. The river crossing is the only way to reach about 170 homes.

The Baring Bridge was badly damaged during the storm. Road Services crews cleared logs and made small repairs after several trees hit the bridge, but now only vehicles under 5 tons (10,000 pounds) can use it*. This limits access for residents, emergency crews, utility workers, and deliveries of things like propane and septic supplies. The new temporary bridge will let heavier vehicles reach the community.

The temporary bridge is expected to be installed in spring 2026. The project will cost about $3.5 million and will be built by Johansen Construction Company of Sumner, WA. King County is also planning a permanent replacement for the historic Baring Bridge, and design work has already started. Learn more about the permanent replacement at KingCounty.gov/BaringBridge.

Before the temporary bridge is installed, King County will hold a community meeting for Baring residents.

*If you have a load over 5 tons, please notify Road Services. Our bridge engineers will review and decide if the use is permissible. Please visit the Bridge load limits and permits in Unincorporated King County website for more information. Overweight vehicles must be reviewed and approved prior to use.

Receive important updates 

Subscribers receive emails and text messages about unincorporated King County road construction projects, significant weather-related road closures, and natural disasters. Manage your subscriptions to receive all road alerts or limit these updates only to specific zones. Feel free to forward these updates to others who can subscribe by clicking here.