Bellingham Pedestrian Bridge

Alpine Engineering recently contributed to the design of a brand-new 70-foot aluminum pedestrian bridge for the City of Bellingham Parks Department.

This bridge serves as a vital connection between two neighborhoods situated east of Civic Stadium and the Geri Fields complex to the north of Lakeway Drive. The previous wooden boardwalk, originally constructed in the 1990s to span a stream connected to Whatcom Creek, had deteriorated over time and was removed in late summer 2021. Removal of the aging boardwalk included taking out the original post supports from the water channel to allow the stream to return to a more natural state.

Alpine Engineering played a crucial role as the professional engineering consultant within the project team, which also featured Impact Design, Canyon Environmental, Fain Environmental, PowerTek Survey, GeoEngineers, and Materials Testing and Consulting—providing essential onsite materials testing services.

Neptune General Contractors, the project's contractor, demonstrated remarkable resilience while overcoming challenging working conditions, including a historic flood and frigid winter weather.

The design phase for the new bridge commenced in August 2021, with construction successfully completed in April 2022. Alpine's innovative approach involved proposing an aluminum prefabricated bridge that could be installed as a single unit due to winter construction restrictions imposed by stream flow regulations. Deep pile supports, utilizing screw piles, were suggested for the bridge's foundations.

Moreover, meticulous coordination was necessary with the gas utility for a scheduled gas pipeline replacement, as well as with the water utility, given the proximity of the foundation to a city water main.

The bridge abutments were strategically positioned beyond the stream's usual winter high-water levels, ensuring durability and reliability. The bridge itself was expertly fabricated by local manufacturer Mantle Industries in a Whatcom County workshop.