On May 27th, 2025, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and staff, community members, and project partners gathered to celebrate the completion of a vital bridge replacement project of the Upper Pearl Hill Bridge following devastating damage caused by the 2020 Cold Springs Canyon Pearl Hill Fire.
The Upper Pearl Hill Bridge was initially constructed in 1953. In 2019, a load rating assessment determined that the 66-year-old bridge required posting for single-unit vehicles (SUVs). In February 2020, the bridge was placed on a monthly monitoring schedule following a site evaluation that identified critical out-of-plane rotation of the abutment's steel cap beam. Later, in July 2020, the Pearl Hill Fire damaged the bridge’s timber back walls, further compromising the abutments and exacerbating the condition of the already weakened steel cap beams.
The bridge sustained significant fire damage, particularly to its timber abutments—comprised of 3x12-foot wooden planks stacked behind 12x12-foot timber piles—which burned during the wildfire. Though temporary weight restrictions allowed limited use, the bridge's full functionality could not be restored without a full replacement of the structure.
Douglas County Engineer Aaron Simmons summarized the project:
“The original bridge had a 30-foot span and was 24 ½ feet wide. The new bridge is 10 feet longer and 10 feet wider. It features a 40-foot span and a 34-foot width, using 16-inch I-beams placed 2 feet on center to form the superstructure. The new abutments are cast-in-place with mechanically stabilized wing walls. The voided slab superstructure is 46 feet long, 4 feet wide, and a foot and a half deep—designed to withstand anything nature has to throw at it. The previous bridge lasted 70 years; this one should last 100. And we're proud to bring it in under budget—initial 2021 inflation-adjusted estimates projected $2.9M, and final costs are expected to come in around $2.7M.”
The Upper Pearl Hill Bridge Replacement project was funded by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Local Bridge Program. This program focuses on preserving and improving the condition of bridges that are physically deteriorated or structurally deficient through replacement, rehabilitation, and systematic preventive maintenance. It supports bridges owned by cities and counties across the state.
The successful completion of the project was a true team effort. Simmons recognized several individuals and teams who played critical roles:
• Douglas County Team:
Assistant County Engineer Jennifer Lange, Transportation Programs Manager Justin Roozen, Capital Programs EIT Riley Haug, Construction Inspector Derek Reynolds, and Transportation Administrative Assistant Erika Guerrero—all of whom played key roles in moving the project forward.
Scott Reiman and John Pease provided crucial support with detour coordination and consultation.
Cameron Boesch and Westin Knutson of the County Survey Team played a vital role in re-establishing right-of-way lines—an effort that required extensive fieldwork and historical reference searching.
• WSDOT Local Programs:
Brian Pearson, Greg Boatright, and Scott Servine, for their instrumental role in funding administration and project support.
• Design and Engineering:
Brian Lindstrom of KPFF and his subcontractors led the bridge design.
Justin Roozen, Transportation Programs Manager, handled environmental permitting.
• Construction & Testing:
Wesslin Construction, led by Gerry and Jeff Wesslin, managed contracting.
Ben Casares and crew completed most site work.
North Central Testing conducted materials testing.
Douglas County Commissioner Chair Marc Straub offered remarks highlighting both the technical and human impact of the project:
“First of all, obviously it takes a lot of people to make a project successful, but I want to go back to the point of those we serve—and that is our citizens who live, work in, and around this area. Mr. Troutman, for example, has farmed this land for four generations. We have many families who live and work here, doing what they need to carve out a living, and you can’t overemphasize the importance of this roadway.
You don’t always realize how critical a road is until a fire takes out—or significantly restricts use of—a key component of it. This is a farm-to-market road serving our agricultural producers, and when it was damaged in 2020, I remember coming out with Aaron and seeing the timbers still smoldering. I want to say that I—and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners—understand that this situation was not convenient for the residents and others who rely on this road.
But, as Aaron alluded to, Mr. Troutman came to us and asked, ‘How can I help? How can my family help?’ That really demonstrates the spirit of the people who live and work in this community, and I don’t want that to go unnoticed—it’s incredibly important.
We recognize that this was not the most convenient project—that’s not lost on us. But we also knew that, to have something that will last the next 100 years, we had to make sure it was done right. That’s a testament to everyone who worked on this.
We hope that this serves the needs of our ag community and the families who live and work in this part of the upper county for years to come. For that, thank you—and thanks to everybody who had a role. This ribbon cutting is just a way to memorialize the dedication of all those who played an important part.”
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners also extends sincere thanks to local residents and bridge neighbors—Sara and Wade Troutman, William and Diane Douglas, Sharon Hammond, and Norm and Dan Cavadini—for their patience and support throughout the project.
For more information on Douglas County infrastructure projects, visit: https://www.douglascountywa.net/309/Transportation
