Historic Red Bridge slated for repairs this summer

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, MARCH 6: The historic Red Bridge 537 on Mountain Loop Highway will undergo small structural repairs this summer, as well as receiving a new coat of paint that pays homage to the history of the bridge. 

Construction is expected to occur from June through October 2025, during daytime hours Monday through Friday. Located approximately 18 miles east of Granite Falls, the three-span structure measures 161 feet long and 26 feet wide. The bridge carries two lanes of traffic over the South Fork Stillaguamish River.

The bridge will receive preventative maintenance and a new coat of red paint. Drivers can expect single-lane closures with minimal delays. To find more information or to sign up to receive construction updates, visit snohomishcountywa.gov/6187.

The bridge has varying levels of corrosion and deteriorating surface paint, the Snohomish County Public Works said in a press release. Lead-based paint is present on the bridge and will require special care to remove. Crews plan to follow health and environmental safety regulations and carefully remove the old paint within a containment system. With protective measures in place, crews will then perform minor structural repairs and repaint the structural steel. The bridge will be painted Insignia Red to reflect the historical record of this structure.

The first Red Bridge was constructed in 1893 to carry the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway over its final river crossing from the gold mines in the North Cascade Mountains to a smelter in Everett.

“Throughout its history, the Red Bridge name stayed the same, but the red color did not,” Public Works Director Kelly Snyder said in a press release. “The current bridge that stands today was originally painted blue when it was built in 1954, and then in the mid-1970s, it was painted beige. In the early 1990s, it was painted red in honor of the earlier railroad bridge, which had rusted and turned red in the 1930s.”

Funding for this project comes from the Federal Highways Bridge Program and the Snohomish County Road Fund. The project cost is estimated at $3.62 million.

Impacts to Red Bridge Campground

Red Bridge 537 is located next to the Red Bridge Campground in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The campground is a popular destination for fishing, kayaking and hiking enthusiasts. The Mountain Loop Hwy and United States Forest Service (USFS) campground will be open as usual this summer, but campers should expect some construction noise near the bridge on weekdays during daylight hours. To reserve camping spots or make a change to a current reservation, visit the USFS website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=17840

Based on a press release from the Snohomish County Public Works Department.