SLIDESHOW New Dungeness Bridge, Blessing Draws a Crowd

The community celebrated the reopening of the Railroad Bridge on Dec. 30 with a special ceremony led by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe

By Alana Linderoth • January 6, 2016 2:03 pm
Railroad Bridge Park filled with community members on Dec. 30 to join the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the newly constructed bridge across the Dungeness River.
Railroad Bridge Park filled with community members on Dec. 30 to join the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the newly constructed bridge across the Dungeness River.

Railroad Bridge Park filled with community members on Dec. 30 to join the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the newly constructed bridge across the Dungeness River.

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council Chairman Ron Allen and Vice Chairman Liz Mueller cut cedar boughs to commemorate the opening of the bridge.

A 750-foot steel pedestrian foot bridge has replaced the wooden, creosote trestle damaged during floods in early February.

Connecting to the 150-foot historical Dungeness Howe Truss Railroad Bridge to allow public passage across the river, the thoughtfully designed bridge also is fish and river-friendly.

Already the Dungeness River has migrated to a channel far to its west, showcasing the ability freely meander once again.