Stewart Road/8th Street White River Bridge

Location: Stewart Road at the White River

Project Completion: 2027

Description: This project will replace existing 2-lane bridge with a new 74-foot wide bridge with two unequal length spans. The new structure will accommodate 4 vehicle lanes, a sidewalk, and a trail crossing.

Benefits: The new bridge will alleviate the current bottleneck in the corridor to allow better traffic flow. The bridge will also support safe pedestrian movement across the bridge and connect to existing pedestrian facilities.

Existing Conditions Looking East Proposed Conditions Looking East



Map showing project area on Stewart Rd/8th Street over White River.


Location: Stewart Road at the White River

Project Completion: 2027

Description: This project will replace existing 2-lane bridge with a new 74-foot wide bridge with two unequal length spans. The new structure will accommodate 4 vehicle lanes, a sidewalk, and a trail crossing.

Benefits: The new bridge will alleviate the current bottleneck in the corridor to allow better traffic flow. The bridge will also support safe pedestrian movement across the bridge and connect to existing pedestrian facilities.

Existing Conditions Looking East Proposed Conditions Looking East



Map showing project area on Stewart Rd/8th Street over White River.


  • 08/08/2025 Construction Update

    • WORK COMPLETED FOR WEEK ENDING 08/08/2025:

      • Complete testing of constructed pier 1
      • Installed temporary casing for pier 2
      • Excavated pier 2 shaft
      • Install shaft 2 rebar

    • WORK IN PROGRESS NEXT WEEK (08/10/2025 - 08/16/2025):

      • Continue driving 36" pile for southern trestle access
      • Continue driving sheet pile at northern trestle access
      • Install reaction frame for drilling permanent bridge shafts at pier 3
      • Begin drilling pier 3 shaft

    • UPCOMING WORK THROUGH 09/30/2025:

      • In-water work will commence until end of fish window.
      • Brief traffic interruptions will occur during crane operations. Traffic impacts expected to be minimal.

    Lowering rebar cage into shaft for pier 2

    Prepping the oscillator at pier 2

  • 8/1/2025 Construction Update

    • WORK COMPLETED FOR WEEK ENDING 08/01/2025:

    • Drive temporary sheet piles at north side trestle access
    • Drive temporary 36" pipe pile at the south trestle access
    • Backfilled northern trestle access for pier 2
    • Installed reaction frame for drilling permanent bridge shafts at pier 2
    • Made dewatering connections
    • Drilled and poured pier 3 shaft

    • WORK IN PROGRESS NEXT WEEK (08/03/2025 - 08/09/2025):

      • Continue driving 36" pile for southern trestle access
      • Begin drilling and pouring pier 2 shaft


    • UPCOMING WORK THROUGH 09/30/2025:

      • In-water work will commence until end of fish window.
      • Brief traffic interruptions will occur during crane operations. Traffic impacts expected to be minimal.

    Pouring Pier 3 Shaft

    View of Northern Trestle

  • 07/18/2025 Construction Update

    • WORK COMPLETED FOR WEEK ENDING 07/18/2025:

    *In-water work fish window begins this week*

    • Drive temporary sheet piles at north side trestle access
    • Drive temporary 36" pipe pile at the south trestle access
    • Removed revetment panels on east river bank


    • WORK IN PROGRESS NEXT WEEK (07/21/2025 - 07/25/2025):

      • Continue driving 36" pile for southern trestle access
      • Continue driving sheet pile at northern trestle access
      • Backfill northern trestle access for pier 2
      • Install reaction frame for drilling permanent bridge shafts at pier 2
      • Make dewatering connections
      • Begin drilling pier 3 shaft

    • UPCOMING WORK THROUGH 09/30/2025:

      • In-water work will commence until end of fish window.
      • Brief traffic interruptions will occur during crane operations. Traffic impacts expected to be minimal.


    Driving sheet pile at northern trestle access


    Driving pipe pile for southern trestle access



  • Groundbreaking Celebration

    We were pleased to officially break ground on this project on March 18, 2025. Joining in the celebration were U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland, Mayor Kathy Hayden, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Pierce County Councilmember Dave Morell. We also had other funders and members of the project teams, past and present, helping to celebrate the start of construction.

  • PSE Utility Relocation begins September 28th

    PSE will begin relocating power poles in the area on Saturday, September 28th. PSE and other utilities will be working in the area during Fall 2024 to make way for the upcoming major construction next year.

  • Project Bid Opening October 2024!

    The project was first advertised for construction on September 11th, 2024. The project is expected to be will be awarded in October, with major construction activities beginning early in 2025.

  • Another $7 million in federal funding for Stewart Road Bridge

    The National Highway Freight Program has awarded $7 Million in funding to the Stewart Road Bridge construction project. These funds will be added to the construction phase. With these additional dollars and other recent awards and appropriations.

  • Stewart Road Bridge Receives $2.8 Million Federal Appropriation from Congress

    When President Biden signed the federal budget in late 2022, the City was appropriated $2.8 million for the Stewart Road Bridge project. These funds will go to the project construction. Many thanks to our elected officials for securing these funds for the project.

  • TIB Awards $6M to Stewart Road Bridge Construction

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    In early December 2022, the City was awarded a $6 Million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board! These funds account for the largest outside funding source for the project to date. The project is getting very close construction, with a start date possibilities between Summer 2023 and Winter 2024. The funding picture is looking much stronger!

  • Stewart Road Bridge at the top of Sumner's 2021 Washington State Legislative Agenda

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    The Stewart Road Bridge Replacmeent Project is the #1 priority on Sumner's 2021 Legislative Agenda, requesting $7 Million for the project. This document is produced for lawmakers looking to local municipal governments to understand their needs and priorities. Funding this project would enable the project to progress through to Construction, completing the corridor, relieving congestion, and opening up the available floodplain for the White RIver. Completing this project would be the crowning achievement for a corridor 30 years in the making. Check out the entire Sumner legislative agenda here:

    2021 Sumner Legislative Agenda

Page last updated: 08 Aug 2025, 11:36 AM