Preserving 'Historic Value' of Main Street Bridge

WAITSBURG – It took the City of Waitsburg the better part of a decade to secure funding to replace the 90-year-old Main Street Bridge, which is designed in such a way that it creates a flood hazard.

Since the state legislature awarded $1.7 million toward the bridge’s replacement in June of 2015, the city has been busy checking off the many requirements that have to be in place before the bridge can be replaced this summer.

At their December meeting the city council checked off another box by approving an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers and the Washington State Historic Preservation Officer, regarding the historical preservation of the current bridge.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe explained that, because the current bridge has a history and is near a historic district, is being treated as historic. As such, several entities including the Waitsburg Historical Society, the Corp of Engineers, the Historic Bridge Foundation, the State Historical Preservation Trust, and the Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation have worked together to “resolve the adverse effects” of the replacement of the historic property.

The Corp of Engineers has agreed to ensure the city meets several stipulations in order to best preserve the historic value of the bridge.

First, the new bridge has been designed to fit with the architecture and aesthetic features of the Waitsburg Historic District. The bridge’s texture, light fixtures, and railings were designed with a historic feel, with allowances made for modern safety requirements.

Next, the city must create and install an interpretive display that represents the history of the Waitsburg Main Street Bridge, within two years of the agreement. The display is to be located on the adjacent park or on the new bridge. It is suggested that the display include narrative text, photographs or art, and at least one “character-defining” portion of the current bridge, such as one of the concrete panel inserts.

Third, the city has agreed to designate a section of the city website to document the Waitsburg Main Street Bridge. The web page must be uploaded within six months of the completion of the interpretive display.

The city also agreed to email yearly status updates to all consulting parties involved and agreed on a method for dealing with objections that cannot be resolved between the parties.

City attorney Jared Hawkins acknowledged that some requirements were somewhat vague. For example, there is nothing to dictate how long the bridge web page must be maintained. Even so, he said the stipulations ensure “coordination and cooperation.” They are a way to document that the involved parties have communicated and are working to ensure that those interests have been satisfied, he said.