Euclid Bridge re-opens after four years

AIRWAY HEIGHTS - After nearly four years of closure for repairs, the Euclid Bridge near Airway Heights reopened its lanes to the public on a chilly morning, November 29.

Dozens of eager residents and curious onlookers gathered to witness the unveiling of the restored bridge and learn about the extensive repairs and upgrades that have taken place.

The ambitious project, with a total cost of $3,652,000, was a collaborative effort between multiple agencies.

Representatives from Spokane County, Fairchild Air Force Base, Fire District 10, and the Washington Department of Transportation worked together to bring the vital infrastructure back to life.

Commissioner Al French, a key figure in the project, noted that this endeavor ranked among the most challenging he has encountered in his career.

"This has been an incredible journey," French said. "Four years of negotiations, meetings, documents and everything else have got us to this point, but we are finally here."

"I was just sharing with somebody that during my entire career either with the city or the county, this has been the hardest project I've ever had to work on."

French said it was initially challenging to ensure everyone came to the table with ideas that could help rebuild the bridge.

He also said that the project wasn't necessarily a priority for the railroad company, and that lead to a lot of delays that slowed the process.

"As I indicated, it took four years of endurance. Endurance from the standpoint of the residents out here and endurance from my point working through all of the bureaucracy on different levels, French said. "In the big scheme of things in Burlington Northern's world, a bridge in rural Spokane County is not high on their priority list so it took a lot of extra energy and effort to keep this project moving as a priority."

Fire District 10 Chief Ken Johnson echoed those thoughts.

"The private sector, Burlington Northern has many bridges across the country that are in need of repair," Johnson said. "So why would they worry about prioritizing Spokane County."

"Well, it's our job to make sure the project stays a priority and that gets communicated to them."

French also said they have not received a check yet, but the railroad company did contribute to the repair costs.

The Euclid Bridge, historically the property of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, will now transition into the county's ownership.

This transfer includes the responsibility for maintenance and upkeep, a move county officials believe will facilitate more efficient and timely repairs when needed. French said with this addition, the county oversees repairs and maintenance for 163 bridges through the county.

The bridge, originally constructed in the early 1900s, faced a significant setback in 1979 when it was entirely destroyed by fire.

In 1980, BNSF undertook the task of rebuilding the vital link, which has served as a crucial connection in the region.

The catalyst for the recent rehabilitation emerged in June 2019 when Spokane County Public Works conducted an inspection, revealing critical points of failure in the bridge structure.

Concerns about public safety prompted the county bridge engineer to recommend the closure, diverting area residents and commuters onto a challenging back road during the extended repair period.

Commandant of the Personnel Recovery Academy, Lt. Col. Matthew Arnold, spoke to the crowd about how many members of Fairchild have been affected. He also thanked French for his dedication on the project.

"Political acumen, influence and leadership was instrumental in steering us all toward success," Arnold said. "Your unwavering support of the military servicemen and women and the Spokane community has been evident every step of the way."

Fire District 10 Chief Ken Johnson emphasized that the reopening of the Euclid Bridge will not only alleviate the inconvenience caused by the detour but will also contribute to faster emergency response times in the area.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts that have been put into this bridge," Johnson said. "Obviously emergency access for emergency service is critical, and this was a critical access point to this community."

French also weighed in on the community having to use Newkirk Rd. for that period of time.

"For those of you that had to endure Newkirk Rd. for the last four years," French said. "I appreciate your patience."

"I had to drive it a couple times and lost two fillings," he jokingly added.

French said the county is planning on regrading that road also, because it is "a terrible road."

Spokane County Public Works Director Kyle Twohig said the number one issue was the detours put in place.

"The number one challenge for everyone here today was the detour," Twohig said. "That was a significant issue for not just everyone in the community, but for the crews trying to keep Newkirk alive through the insane amount of traffic it had to endure as well."

"Safety is our number one consideration when we are out here, and working over an active train line. So, we can't be disrupting train traffic for obvious safety reasons."

Twohig said the bridge was remodeled to have better safety features as well.

"This bridge does have some enhanced safety features," Twohig said.

"Apparently you will not achieve lift off at 45 miles per hour," he added, inciting laughter from the crowd. "Sorry, not sorry but I would rather not see cars fall off the side of the bridge.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official reopening of the bridge to traffic, symbolizing the culmination of years of planning, collaboration, and hard work.

The Euclid Bridge now stands as a testament to the resilience and dedication of the community and its partners in overcoming challenges to restore a vital piece of local infrastructure.

Author Bio

Matthew Stephens, Reporter

Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.