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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         
August 12, 2022                                           

City of Kenmore Communications
communications@kenmorewa.gov
425-398-8900

Thousands attend Grand Opening Celebration of the West Sammamish River Bridge last night

Kenmore, WA - Last night, the City of Kenmore temporarily closed the newly completed West Sammamish River Bridge and invited the public to celebrate on the bridge deck with live music and entertainment, food, and other free tokens of appreciation. “This was our way of saying thank you to all of our residents for supporting the bridge project,” Mayor Nigel Herbig said. “Not only did our taxpayers pay for the bridge, they also endured the inconvenience of the construction. For that, we are grateful.”

$39 million of the $43 million cost of the bridge came from sources outside of Kenmore, including state and federal grants. “I applaud the tenacity and hard work of City Engineer John Vicente and his team for applying for and securing the grants to build the bridge,” said City Manager Rob Karlinsey. “Congresswoman Susan DelBene and our state legislators were also instrumental in securing significant and vital funds for this project and keeping it on schedule,” he said.

The new bridge was built to replace the aging structure that was built in the 1930s. In his remarks given at the event, Mayor Herbig stated, “This bridge will carry thousands of people every day and is a legacy project that will outlast us all. But this bridge’s purpose is more than just carrying cars. It’s about supporting alternate modes of transportation. The 16-foot wide promenade is fully protected from cars and was built to provide a safe and comfortable experience for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Mayor Herbig continued, “This bridge is also about building a sense of place in Kenmore. The special features on this bridge such as the artwork, the decorative railing, the landscaping and street lighting details, and last but not least, the unique lookout point here at the center of the bridge all work together to create a special place of connection in our community.”

Over 2,000 residents joined together on the bridge deck in celebration of the bridge’s completion. The event began with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 pm.

As he cut the ribbon, Mayor Herbig was accompanied by past and present city councilmembers, several state legislators, and Dr. Devin Byrd, President of Bastyr University. Immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony, brief speeches were given by Mayor Herbig, City Engineer John Vicente, State Representative Javier Valdez, and Bastyr President Devin Byrd. A prepared letter from U.S. Representative Susan DelBene was read to the crowd, and Ashley Probart, Director of the Washington State Transportation Board, also gave remarks.

Following the speeches, residents enjoyed live music by Blue Wave band, magic shows, art activities, face painting, and more. Food for the event included entrees from several food trucks, gelato, cupcakes, and kettle corn. The event culminated with a fireworks show launched from Log Boom Park. “I had so much fun,” said Olya Smyrnova, who immigrated to Kenmore from Ukraine earlier this summer. “The band was great and I think I danced the entire time.”

“This was an historic day in Kenmore,” said City Councilmember Debra Srebnik. “This bridge is going to serve our community for many generations to come, and it was wonderful to have so many people be a part of celebrating its completion.”

Watch a video of the project construction here.

Visit the West Sammamish River Bridge Replacement Project website here.