Contact:

April Leigh, Public Works Education & Outreach Supervisor (360) 867-2375 or april.leigh@co.thurston.wa.us 

OLYMPIA – Thurston County Public Works will temporarily close approximately 1.5 miles of the Chehalis Western Trail (CWT) in East Thurston County July 14 - September 15. The closure, between 89th Ave. SE and 103rd Ave. SE, affects all through traffic. Public Works must close the section of trail to complete a new 88-foot trail bridge and overlook above Spurgeon Creek.

“We try to avoid closures along the trail during summer months. However, this project requires in-water work where spawning fish are present in the fall. That means we have a limited window to complete construction this summer,” said Project Manager Marcus Storvick.

Trail users are encouraged to revise their routes to accommodate the temporary closure. 

The new bridge and overlook are part of a larger Thurston County Fish Passage Enhancement project. In addition to improvements along the CWT, the project includes a new 57-foot bridge over nearby Latigo Street SE and streambed enhancements to improve fish passage. When complete, the project will replace four fish-blocking culverts and open an additional mile of upstream habitat to spawning fish in Spurgeon Creek, a tributary of the Deschutes River.

The $2 million project is funded by a $1.7 million grant from the Washington State Conservation Office Brian Abbot Fish Barrier Removal Board and $300-thousand in local Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET).

For more information about the project visit the Latigo St. at Spurgeon Creek and Chehalis Wester Trail project page.

The project is one of two Thurston County Fish Passage Enhancement projects scheduled for construction this summer. For an online map of current and past projects, and details about the program, visit Thurston County Fish Passage Enhancement.

-30-