Drafter
Clerk 05/13/2004
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AN ORDINANCE waiving requirements in chapters 36.32, 39.80 and 39.10 RCW and K.C.C. chapters 4.04, 4.16, 4.18, 12.16, 12.18 and 20.62 relating to the Norman Bridge 122P; and declaring an emergency.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings.
A. The Norman Bridge 122P crosses the middle fork of the Snoqualmie river, north of the city of North Bend and east of 428th Avenue SE. This timber truss bridge was built in 1950 and replaced a similar bridge that was constructed in 1924. In 1984, when the Norman Bridge could no longer sustain vehicular traffic, the roadway was realigned and a new bridge constructed in its place.
B. A 1984 report by the Pacific Transportation Services Company stated that prudent maintenance practices should preserve the bridge for the next fifteen years under pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This same year the bridge was designated a King County Landmark. In 1989 the public works department and the natural resources and parks division signed an interdepartmental agreement ending the need for the old bridge and alignment as part of the county road system and initiating the use for recreational purposes. The intent of the agreement is to permit the parks division to assume operations and maintenance of the bridge.
C. In 1994, the bridge was closed to all public use after an accident involving a horse crossing the bridge. An inspection of the bridge by the Washington state Department of Transportation found that there was extensive rot in the timber structure. The cost to repair the bridge was estimated at over one million dollars. Sufficient funds were not available to conduct these repairs. Consequently, the bridge was closed and remains closed to all public use.
D. In 1999, the main pier supporting the south end of the timber truss was in danger of failing. The parks department contracted with the road services division to perform emergency repairs to ...

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