Tacoma railway to get makeover with new bridge

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Railways in Tacoma will see improvements as Sound Transit plans to replace a wooden trestle with a concrete-and-steel bridge.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports that Sound Transit will host a public meeting to present the design of the bridge Tuesday.

The current, single-track wooden trestle will be replaced by a double-track concrete structure in hopes of easing congestion. The new bridge will affect Sounder line passengers between Seattle to Lakewood and Amtrak passengers when the current Amtrak station closes.

The replacement is part of a Sound Transit ballot measure passed in 2008. The project includes the bridge and extended passenger platforms and is budgeted at $115 million, with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.