Gov. Jay Inslee, the executive director of the Cascade Bicycle Club and other elected leaders gathered at the Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue on Tuesday, as King County Executive Dow Constantine outlined the county’s plan to transform the iconic structure into a scenic elevated trail.

King County has assembled significant funds needed to transform the historic Wilburton Trestle into a stunning elevated trail that can be enjoyed by commuters, cyclists, runners and pedestrians.

The century-old trestle – the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest – is expected to be one of the most popular segments of the emerging Eastside Rail Corridor, a 16-mile uninterrupted trail that will stretch from Renton to Woodinville, through Bellevue with a spur to Redmond.

“The iconic Wilburton Trestle will be the symbol of the world-class regional trail system we’re creating along the Eastside Rail Corridor,” Constantine said. “We’re repurposing the historic trestle into a premier public asset that will provide commuters, cyclists, runners and pedestrians with a spectacular view of the Eastside skyline.”

Built in 1904 by Northern Pacific Railway, Wilburton Trestle is one of the few remaining structures that were typical of the original transcontinental rail system. It’s nearly 1,000 feet long and rises more than 100 feet above the ground.

The improvement project – anticipated to be completed in 2020 – will convert the trestle into a multipurpose elevated trail.

“The innovative and iconic Wilburton Trestle project will connect the Eastside like never before, through a multi-use trail corridor,” Inslee said. “I am pleased to announce the state’s intent to provide capital funding for the project, and I can’t wait to come back and be one of the first to cross the trestle when it opens.”

The funding commitments that Constantine announced will cover $10 million of the project’s total cost of $13.2 million. The commitments include $2 million from King County, $5 million from the state, $2 million from the city of Bellevue as proposed in its 2017-2018 budget, $500,000 from the Puget Sound Regional Council and $500,000 from Group Health Cooperative.

Constantine also announced that he is creating a commission of local leaders to create a funding strategy to complete the entire Eastside Rail Corridor project.

A regional trail system connecting East and South King communities

The project is part of the broader Eastside Rail Corridor Master Plan, which is now before the Metropolitan King County Council. The trail will connect growing communities in East and South King County and will provide additional commuting and recreational options.

Earlier this year, Constantine led a celebration farther north on the corridor, pulling the ceremonial first spike from an obsolete railway to make way for a multipurpose trail.