Darrington — About 25 people huddled together in the cold and rain, braving flood warnings to open the White Chuck Bridge very close to the anniversary of when floods washed it out in 2003.

“The community has missed it,” said Darrington Mayor Joyce Jones.

“They use it to go picnicking, hunting, fishing and scenic driving,” adding that out-of-towners enjoy the campground and scenic areas east of the bridge, too.

The replacement bridge is a single-span, single-lane bridge 16 feet wide, approximately 200 feet downstream from the old bridge. Located eight miles from Darrington on Forest Service Road 22, off of Mountain Loop Highway, the bridge spans the White Chuck River and gives access to the public boat launch on the north side of the river, to the Gold Mountain area and creates a loop to the Sauk Prairie Road.

It wasn’t an easy bridge to build, according to the Forest Service.

Designers and construction workers had to make design adjustments when they discovered there wasn’t enough bedrock on the other side of the river to tie down the bridge, and additional alterations were needed when the river changed course.

But Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Forest Service and AIC, finished work by the completion date and under budget, said Division Engineer Clara Conner from the Federal Highway Administration. She attributed the accomplishment to teamwork.

Clara Conner, Mayor Jones, Darrington District Ranger Peter Forbes and Brenda White from Congressman Rick Larsen’s office cut the ribbon stretching across the bridge and the wet crowd applauded.

Darrington District Ranger Peter Forbes said he was surprised how many people attended with the adverse weather conditions.

“It shows how much people appreciate the national forest. They want to come out and enjoy all of this beauty, and now it is accessible for all.”