Hanson provided alternative analysis and conceptual design services to restore full tidal circulation in the southern portion of Fidalgo Bay in Anacortes, Washington. The project involved removing 2,350 feet of causeway and 2,050 feet of creosote-pile trestle that bisected the bay and impeded natural processes and replacing them with a 4,400-foot-long environmentally sustainable multiuse trail bridge.
The conceptual design effort included surveying, geotechnical and environmental field investigations; hydrodynamic modeling; conceptual structural design; and project renderings. Hanson and its subconsultant team prepared a conceptual design report outlining existing conditions, key design criteria, preliminary design considerations and alternatives, and pile and soil removal considerations. The report also included the following analyses, evaluations and recommendations: environmental and permitting considerations, input from stakeholder consultations, preferred alternatives, associated opinions of probable construction cost and recommended next steps.
Infrastructure and environmental stewardship
This project represents a significant investment in both infrastructure and environmental stewardship, providing secure pedestrian access while enhancing the health of Fidalgo Bay. Species expected to benefit include:
- juvenile salmonids (chum, coho, and Chinook)
- Dungeness crab
- blue heron
- migratory waterbirds
The City of Anacortes led the project in partnership with the Samish Indian Nation and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. It was funded in part by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program with matching funds acquired by the Samish Indian Nation and the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee.
