Wilburton Trestle

The Wilburton Trestle is a wooden railway bridge that stretches across 297 meters and stands about 31 meters above Kelsey Creek and Southeast Eighth Street. The structure is made of wooden posts and steel beams arranged in an open lattice pattern.

Northern Pacific Railroad built this bridge in 1904 to connect Renton and Snohomish for freight transport. Four major reconstructions between 1913 and 1943 kept the structure standing, and it later carried aircraft parts until it closed in 2008.

The structure shows engineering methods from the early 1900s and reflects how railways shaped the region. You can see today how builders solved the challenge of crossing a creek with wood and steel.

Access is limited right now, but starting in 2024 a renovation project will transform the bridge into an elevated walking path with viewing platforms. This work is part of a larger regional trail network.

The bridge once carried Boeing aircraft fuselages during its active years, connecting to the region's aviation industry in unexpected ways. Few visitors realize this industrial landmark had such a direct link to aircraft manufacturing.