DARRINGTON — The old bridge on Sauk Prairie Road was barely more than one lane, just wide enough for logging trucks, school buses, farmers hauling hay, and maybe, if each drove slowly, a narrow car coming the other direction.
The old standard-issue green, steel-and-timber truss bridge northeast of downtown Darrington was built in the late 1920s or early ’30s, when fording the Sauk River became just too dangerous.
It was a hardy bridge and served the community well, Darrington Mayor Joyce Jones remembers.
Along with meeting essential transportation needs, the old bridge was the destination of Sunday afternoon walkers, wildflower pickers, local salmon fishermen and summertime swimmers. And one time in the 1940s, pilot Alden Reece flew his single-engine plane underneath the bridge, Jones said.
Now the old bridge has been replaced by a shiny new structure that is Snohomish County’s longest two-span steel truss bridge at 480 feet. Sauk River Bridge No. 414 is twice as wide as the old bridge and has plenty of room for two fully loaded log trucks side-by-side.
The $16.8 million trestle, completed earlier this year, was built on one side of the river and rolled into place next to the old bridge. Once construction of the new bridge was far enough along to allow for traffic, the old bridge was lifted out of the river.
“It was awesome to see the bridges next to each other,” Jones said.
About 300 people live in the Sauk Prairie area on the other side of the bridge from Darrington, including elementary school secretary Dianne Green. She plans to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the new bridge. Speakers, elected officials and the county’s road projects team plan to attend.
“We’re all very excited about the new bridge, and we’re especially excited about the celebration,” Green said.
The ceremony is set to include bluegrass music and longtime residents sharing their memories.
“It’s another chance to hear some of the old stories about this river crossing,” Mayor Jones said.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427, gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Bring out the big scissors
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the new bridge across the Sauk River along Sauk Prairie Road.
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