'Bridge to the Beach' opening postponed

The opening of the pedestrian overpass at Chambers Creek Properties has been moved to Sept. 16 due to a construction delay.

The “Bridge to the Beach” opening was originally planned for Sept. 2. But delays with the delivery of custom cable railing sections prompted the need to move the opening date.

Pease and Sons, the contractor on the project, is ready to install the final pieces as soon as they arrive. “We are disappointed that the final pieces of safety railing are delaying the completion of the project,” said Bryan Hillemann, the project manager from Pease and Sons. “We are doing everything in our power to expedite delivery of the railing.”

“We cannot open a pedestrian bridge that is not secure,” said Brian Ziegler, Public Works and Utilities director. “We are coordinating very closely with the contractor to make sure we can open as soon as possible.”

The custom cable railing system is designed to be unobtrusive and provide durability and ease of maintenance in the marine environment. Unlike other railing options, the cable railing system will provide the bridge with a sleek appearance without distracting from the amazing views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, Chambers Bay Golf Course and the meadows and trails of the Chambers Creek Properties.

The opening ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place on Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. After brief presentations by key officials, the 900-foot overpass will open to allow access to two miles of Puget Sound shoreline that has been off limits for a century due to mining operations.