Golfers are finding the driving a little easier at the Nile Shriners’ Golf Course … not necessarily on the fairways, but on the entry way.

Entering the golf course and club facilities by car is a little easier now that construction of a new bridge and culvert on the property is complete. The bridge spans McAleer Creek and provides a new road surface for drivers, golfers and pedestrians to use to cross the stream. A smaller temporary bridge used during construction of the new span has been removed from the site.

The main purpose of the new structure is to provide a freer flow of water downstream in McAleer Creek; the stream begins at Lake Ballinger and flows southeast through the golf course, beneath I-5, then on to Lake Forest Park. The new bridge includes a much larger culvert for water flowing out of Lake Ballinger, a design that engineers hope will ease season flooding around the lake’s shoreline.

Although the bridge is finished, the $882,387 project is far from complete as construction of two smaller pedestrian/golf cart structures planned for just downstream haven’t even begun yet. These additional crossings and culverts won’t be installed until the summer of 2014 due to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife rules that restrict construction in, around and over fish-bearing streams to a July-through-September window.

New West Development of Everett had hoped to have all three bridges and culverts completed by Sept. 30 of this year, but was unable to obtain the two prefabricated pedestrian bridges in time to install this month, City of Mountlake Terrace officials explained. The company is obligated to complete the project next year, officials added.

– Story and photo by Doug Petrowski/MLT News editor