I have been monitoring closely on a weekly basis with my visits to the Nisqually River RR bridge construction since it began last October with eagerness to see it open to the public and be able to ride my bicycle over the river into another county. I have faithfully documented the progress in taking photos from my cellphone. This bridge is located less than a mile from my house; literally in my backyard.
Yesterday, I rode down to the bridge with much anticipation. Low and behold, there were no signs of construction and no barriers or fences and even the trail camera for security from the construction company was removed out of a tall tree. This was finally done, except for the arrival of custom made reader interpreter boards to be mounted onto four different stands before and after the bridge entrances. I was very fortunate to be the only person down there at that time. I felt very comfortable in taking a lot of pictures of the new construction. I remembered the time a couple years ago, when I walked my bike over this same bridge before the construction. I cautiously walked over every railroad tie between the rails clutching my cellphone not to drop it through the crack openings into the river below to the other side. Now, I do not have to do that anymore.
It will most likely be years before the trail on the other side gets developed into the next town; time and money. There is a lot of Scotch Broom vegetation that hinders the idea of riding my bicycle into this undeveloped portion of the Yelm Prairie Line Trail where the railroad ties and tracks still remain. If I had a horse and knew how to ride, I just might consider doing so. For now, I will wait.
Kim Hetzel.