A century-old railroad trestle in Whatcom Falls Park is leaning dangerously and has to be dismantled.
Parks Department Director Nicole Oliver says a member of the Parks Board noticed something was amiss with the structure over Whatcom Creek.
“We sent a contractor out there, they got up on a lift and were going to remove about eight pilings,” says Oliver. “We realized the whole thing was basically dangling.”
She says it can’t be saved and removing it won’t be easy.
“It’s a historic structure, so we have to go through the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. It’s a fish-bearing creek. It’s a shoreline of state significance,” says Oliver. “It’s got just about every permit required to remove it very carefully with a minimal impact on the creek as possible.”
A trail detour around the structure will remain in place until summer 2022.
The trestle was part of the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad that connected lumber operations at Lake Whatcom to the waterfront.
For more information visit the Washington Trails Association at wta.org.