Elwha River Bridge, Port Angeles, Washington

The Elwha River Bridge spans the fast-moving current of the river on the upper Elwha River Road, which provides an important connection on Highway 112 and Edgewood Road, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The century-old bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, had become structurally deficient and dangerously in need of replacement. Designing a replacement bridge in this unique and sensitive environment was itself a challenge. Through a concerted community involvement effort, the team arrived at the solution of building a double-decked bridge, separating vehicle access from pedestrian and bicycle access. The result is an elegantly suspended pedestrian walkway below a new 589-foot-long bridge that seamlessly connects to the Olympic Discovery Trail. At nearly 90 feet above the river and 28 feet wide, the new Elwha River Bridge is the County's largest bridge and boasts some of the area's most spectacular and unobstructed views of the river and forests. Stacking the automobile deck above the pedestrian and bicycle deck ensured minimal impact to the salmon-bearing river below, while accommodating all travelers and visitors and ensuring their safety and enjoyment in the area.