Eastrail

NE 8th Bridge

Project Schedule: Construction underway. Anticipated opening June 2024.

Construction Cost: $16 Million

Overview

The Eastrail NE 8th St. bridge in central Bellevue will provide a critical pedestrian and bicycle crossing over NE 8th Street, one of the busiest streets on the Eastside. The north side of the bridge will connect directly at ground level with the Wilburton Link Light Rail Station which is scheduled to open in spring 2024. With the upcoming redevelopment of Bellevue’s Wilburton neighborhood just to the south, the bridge will provide an essential safe crossing for trail users and the thousands of new commuters in the Wilburton area.

Due to the prominent position of the bridge a metal artistic cladding will wrap around the main bridge span. To honor the Japanese American heritage in the area several art installations will be incorporated into the bridge.

Bridge Specifications

• Approximately 500' long, 16’ trail width
• Overhead lighting
• Composed of pre-fabricated steel trusses
• Provides direct connection to Sound transit and Rapid Ride, at ground level, on the north side of NE 8th.

Eastrail Connection to Wilburton Sound Transit Station

The connection between the Sound Transit Light Wilburton Link Station and the Eastrail will be located on the north side of NE 8th and will occur at ground level. To reach Sound Transit Station from the Eastrail trail users can either take a set of stairs down from the trail bridge to the Sound Transit plaza or continue north down the trail bridge ramp to reach the Sound Transit plaza.

Wilburton Trestle

Project Schedule: Construction underway in early 2024. Anticipated opening late 2025.

Construction Cost: $32 Million.

Overview

King County will transform the historic Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue into a stunning elevated trail that can be enjoyed by commuters, cyclists, runners and pedestrians. The century-old trestle – the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest – is expected to be one of the most popular segments of the Eastrail.

The new trail across the Trestle will include the addition of several viewing platforms to take in the sights and view Kelsey Creek which runs under the structure.

The 1,000 feet long wooden trestle, built in 1904 by Northern Pacific Railway, contributed to the economic growth of the region, first used by trains to haul locally logged timber to mills and ports and later serving, among other uses, as a transportation corridor for airplane fuselages to Boeing’s Renton facility.