Pierce County hopes to design and construct a permanent replacement for the Spiketon Ditch Bridge on the Foothills Trail by summer 2025. The existing bridge was closed in November 2023 after an inspection found major structural degradation, and further inspections were so concerning that the county declared it an emergency safety concern and demolished it in June before it could collapse on its own.

The missing bridge leaves a problematic gap in the Foothills Trail route because there is no safe detour for trail users. The only clear option is to use Pioneer Way E, which is a State Route with very limited shoulders. The county and state should consider creating a temporary space for walking and biking on Pioneer Way at least until the trail bridge is complete. The current official guidance is not sufficient and seems to assume every trail user is just out there for recreation instead of walking or biking for transportation: “No detours through the area are recommended, as there are no other bicycle or pedestrian facilities available. Plan to turn around at the bridge closure and ride or walk back the way you came.”

Pierce County weighed whether to replace the bridge with a temporary structure, but decided to go straight to a permanent one instead. The county also plans to replace a smaller aging trail bridge between Orting and South Prairie by summer 2025. These projects added together with the cross-county trail bridge over the White River due to open this year means next summer should be a great year for the storied rail trail.