Open house scheduled for bridge replacement in Kenmore

The City of Kenmore is hosting an open house to get residents’ input on the West Sammamish River Bridge replacement project.

The bridge, built in the 1930s, carries southbound traffic over the Sammamish River on 68th Avenue NE. It is nearing the end of its life, and in March 2014, weight restrictions on the bridge went into effect until it is replaced.

“We have been monitoring this bridge for several years now,” John Vicente, City of Kenmore capital projects manager, said. “We now have a bridge rating of about six out of 100.”

The East Sammamish River Bridge, which carries northbound traffic on 68th Avenue NE, was built in the 1970s and is in good condition.

In addition to replacing the west bridge, work also will involve replacing approaches to the bridge between NE 170th Street and NE 175th Street. The project will cost approximately $20 million.

Design work, done in collaboration with Jacobs Engineering, began on the project in May 2015, and construction is estimated to start in spring 2019. For more information about the project, visit cityofkenmore.com/WestSammamishRiverBridge.

The open house will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at Kenmore City Hall. A short presentation on the project will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. More information about the public meeting can be found at cityofkenmore.com/bridge-replacement-open-house.

“If there’s any comments (people) have, we’d like to hear them,” Vicente said, adding that anyone unable to attend the meeting who has questions should contact him at jvicente@kenmorewa.gov or 425-398-8900.