News Release

Release date: October 20 , 2000

Grand opening ceremony for new Novelty Bridge across Snoqualmie River

Safety improved. History preserved. Community served. Commitments met.

The King County Road Services Division is holding a Grand Opening Ceremony for dedication of the new Novelty Bridge, a key transportation link over the Snoqualmie River on Northeast 124th Street, an important east-west transportation corridor located between Duvall and Redmond.

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 25
• Where: Northeast 124th Street
  between West Snoqualmie Valley
  Road Northeast and State Route 203
• Time: 10 a.m.
  

A brief ceremony including

• Ron Sims, King County Executive
• Louise Miller, King County Councilmember
• Glen Kuntz, Mayor of Duvall.

To accommodate the ceremony, the bridge will be closed from 9-11:30 a.m. on Oct. 25. This is a different time than previously announced.

After seven months of construction, the new Novelty Bridge opened as scheduled Sunday, Oct. 15. Replacing a deteriorating 80-year-old bridge over the Snoqualmie River, the new steel-arch Novelty Bridge has wider traffic lanes and shoulders with room for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Since work began March 15, construction has been on a fast track to assure completion by mid-October. The project is being delivered on time and within budget, reflecting the county's earlier commitment to the community to use every available means of getting the project built within the shortest time possible to minimize travel disruptions.

The old Novelty Bridge, built in the 1920s, was dismantled and replaced with a 40-foot wide steel arch structure built to modern specifications and able to withstand a significant earthquake. The new bridge includes 8-foot shoulders for pedestrians and bicyclists and artwork complimenting the rural environment surrounding the bridge. Prior to the start of construction, a number of other improvements were made to important detour routes to improve traffic flow.

The county also mounted real-time traffic cameras at the intersection of West Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast and Woodinville-Duvall Road to help motorists avoid congestion.

Limited parking for the ceremony will be available along Northeast 124th Street between West Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast and State Route 203.

For more details, and to see pictures of the new Novelty Bridge, see: http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/projects/novelty/.

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