Port Angeles, Washington is home to an unusual land formation. There is an island within the city limits. How can this be?
The Tumwater Creek and the Valley Creek form a boundary around a small piece of land that is about 2 blocks wide and 13 blocks long. The residents of this small strip of land have four ways to enter or exit this area of the city. There are two bridges on 8th street from the east and west as well as the south entrance from Hwy 101 and the north entrance from Marine Drive.
The island has been created because the two wood trestle bridges on 8th street have been demolished and removed to be replaced in the next year by new concrete bridges that span the creeks.
The old trestle bridges were 70 years old and though they looked sturdy to the average Joe, they were in need of replacement. The city of Port Angeles awarded the job of removal and rebuilding of the bridges to Parsons RCI, Inc. in Sumner, WA.
These were not the first bridges to span the creeks. In 1913 the first bridges were built but started to deteriorate in 1928 due to heavier loads from the new form of transportation called the "automobile".
The new reinforced concrete bridges will be wider to support bicycles and pedestrians as well as auto traffic.
Traffic revisions are in place to accommodate the construction and ease the strain on the public transit bus routes. Residents within the "island" and those above, in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains along Black Diamond Rd, now have 2 entrances and exits to get to other parts of town.
Completion of the bridges is scheduled for the fall of 2008. You can watch the progress of the construction here.
The agents of McHugh Realtors are long time residents of the North Olympic Peninsula and can help you navigate onto and off the "island" in your search for your new home. Call us and let us help.
photos borrowed from City of Port Angeles website.
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