A 15-foot bridge can happen here

Alice Stenhjem

Special to the Gateway

Yes, it can happen in Gig Harbor. It happened to us, and it can happen to you.

We have been following the development and planning of the Cushman Trail between Foster and Rosedale in Gig Harbor since 2006. The trail is funded by a grant and is a joint development project between Pierce County Parks and Tacoma Public Utilities. The project is permitted through Pierce County in conjunction with the City of Gig Harbor.

During this time of public meetings, we were consistently told the trail would be a pin-pile walking path and biking trail located at the top of a beautiful natural hillside above us with minimal invasion of our security, safety and/or impact to an adjoining natural wetland.

However, overnight, and without our knowledge, the construction of a 15-foot-high railroad trestle bridge appeared bordering our condo residents at the bottom of the hillside — in a different location without the courtesy or further opportunity for input.

It was done with little respect, caring or consideration of Gig Harbor tax-paying residents.

The mayor of Gig Harbor, the director of Pierce County parks and the county council member from our District 7 came on site for the first time while the bridge was under construction and after we invited them to view the structure. They were obviously shocked and surprised at its location and size.

In the following weeks and months of discussion with our local representatives, we were at least able to discuss mitigation measures, which should have been addressed as part of the permitting process.

What has been the end result?

The only mitigation for taking away our safety, security and beautiful natural hillside with wetlands has been a planting of small trees on the boundary line.

As residents, we have been informed we will have to pay not only for our own safety and security fence (recommended by the Gig Harbor Police Department), but also for the drainage issues, which arose from the disturbance of the wetlands.

We were given inaccurate information, treated rudely and left on our own to solve the problems.

The City of Gig Harbor will be legally responsible for this railroad bridge when it’s completed.

This could happen to you! Precedent has now been set for the residents of Gig Harbor.

Alice Stenhjem lives in Gig Harbor. She represents many residents of the Ridge Condominiums.