WHITMAN COUNTY, Wash. — Two months after being destroyed by a wildfire, the Winona train trestle is back in operation.
According to officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), a celebration for the new rail bridge will take place this Thursday, Nov. 2 at 10:30 a.m.
According to WSDOT, the original bridge was a 197-foot open track deck timber structure. That structure couldn't withstand a wildfire that took it down on Aug. 19, 2023.
Now, the bridge stands at 210 feet and is made of steel and concrete, which WSDOT says will "provide greater resiliency for the future."
After Gov. Jay Inslee issued a emergency declaration, construction began on the new bridge on Sept. 11. Workers with WATCO, the railroad operator that leases this branch of the Palouse City and Coulee City Railway, worked seven days a week to complete the project.
Now that the tracks have reopened, WSDOT says wheat and other eastern Washington products can be delivered both nationally and internationally. At the celebration, speakers will provide a local perspective on the Winona train trestle and why the replacement is so important for Whitman County and the rest of Washington state.
Those interested in attending the celebration can RSVP to MatkinJ@wsdot.wa.gov.
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KREM in the Channel Store.
Fire TV: search for "KREM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com.
