The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department is closing the pedestrian overpass at the north end of Boulevard Park on Friday, February 19, 2016, for public safety reasons. A recent inspection conducted by a structural engineer found the overpass to be in a condition that warrants closure until it can be repaired.
The wooden stairs and footbridge were constructed in the 1970s to provide pedestrian access over the train tracks to Boulevard Park from S. State Street. A weight bearing beam appears to have deteriorated and the City is taking precautionary measures by closing the overpass until it can be repaired. City staff are working with the structural engineer to determine appropriate measures for repairing the overpass.
“We are working to find a repair solution as quickly as possible, however, precautionary measures are required to ensure public safety until a plan for repair can be identified,” said Leslie Bryson, Director of Bellingham Parks & Recreation. City officials request that the public use a different route until the overpass is repaired.
Boulevard Park can be accessed via the South Bay Trail at Wharf Street, from a pathway adjacent to the pedestrian overpass on S. State Street, from Taylor Dock at Taylor Avenue and 10th Street or from Bayview Drive off of S. State Street.
A construction timeline for repairs has not yet been identified. Please visit the project page on the City’s website for updates as they become available.
