Status
As of January 2008

• Life expectancy of up to 80 years
  
• Meets current seismic standards
  
• Improves visibility and vehicle access
  
• Increases load limit for emergency vehicles, trucks and all legal road vehicles
  
• Meets railroad’s horizontal and vertical clearance requirements
  
• Accommodates a third track for railroad and Sound Transit

What is the Richmond Beach Overcrossing Bridge?

Built in 1923 and rebuilt in 1956, the Richmond Beach Overcrossing Bridge is the sole access over the railroad tracks to 27th Ave. NW (Apple Tree Lane). The bridge is showing its age as it has reached the typical 50-year lifespan for a timber bridge. In 1999, the City imposed weight limits on the bridge for safety reasons and determined that the Richmond Beach Overcrossing Bridge needs major improvements. Last year, the City of Shoreline made an interim safety improvement by adding a median to the bridge to keep vehicle wheels off the bridge’s weakened timbers.

What does the project involve?

After considering long-term structural needs, safety, funding, access concerns and environmental impacts, the engineering team recommended a bridge replacement alternative that is cost efficient and creates the least impact to adjacent properties. The bridge will be replaced with a reinforced concrete structure that will require significantly less maintenance. A temporary detour bridge is planned north of the existing bridge to maintain access to 27th Avenue NW during construction. The  temporary bridge will have a one-way travel lane and a three-foot pedestrian walkway. The total project construction costs are estimated at $3.6 million and will be paid for by a federal grant from the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program plus $242,663  from Shoreline’s Roads Capital Fund and a contribution from BNSF.

Progress to Date:

• Determined no additional private property is needed to construct new bridge or approaches on 27^th Avenue NW and Richmond Beach Drive
• Determined roadway profiles will not be permanently altered
• Obtained BNSF concurrence with proposed bridge alternative
• Installed median to extend service life of existing bridge
• Completed Final Design
• Completed ROW appraisal for temporary construction easement from BNSF
• Obligated Federal Funds for ROW
• Met with surrounding neighbors in Spring 2005
• Determine appropriate bridge design details (i.e. lighting, throw barrier fence and wall treatment)

Upcoming Activities:

• City to make an offer to BNSF for the temporary construction easement
• Negotiate resolution to the construction agreement with BNSF
• Obligate Federal funds for construction
• Advertise project for construction
• Pre-construction meeting with community
  

What are the project benefits?

• New bridge life expectancy up to 80 years
• Meet current seismic standards
• Improve sight safety and vehicle access
• Reduce maintenance, inspection and repairs costs
• Increase bridge load limit for emergency vehicles and trucks
• Meet BNSF horizontal and vertical clearance requirements; and
• Accommodate a third track for BNSF/Sound Transit.