The City of Kenmore temporarily closed the West Sammamish River Bridge on August 11, and invited the public to celebrate on the bridge deck with live music, food and entertainment. The new bridge replaced the aging structure of the previous bridge that was built in the 1930s.

“This was our way of saying thank you to all of our residents for supporting the bridge project,” said Mayor Nigel Herbig. “Not only did our taxpayers pay for the bridge, they also endured the inconvenience of the construction. For that, we are grateful.”

According to the City of Kenmore, over 2,000 individuals attended the grand opening celebration. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held, where Mayor Herbig was accompanied by past and present city council members. After the ribbon was cut, speeches were provided by Mayor Herbig, City Engineer John Vincente, State Representative Javier Valdez and Bastyr University President Devin Byrd.

“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,” said Mayor Herbig at the event. “It’s about supporting all 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.”

Food for the event was provided from several food trucks, and included gelato, cupcakes and kettle corn. The celebration ended with a firework show that was launched from Log Boom Park.

“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.”