Pierce County crews will make repairs to the Carbon River levee near the Foothills Trail between Voight’s Creek and 197th Avenue East starting the week of July 25.

That section of the Foothills Trail will be closed for about a week. The trail may re-open after5 p.m. and on weekends if it is safe to do so. Check the project website for daily updates about the closure at http://www.piercecountywa.org/TrailClosure.

Pierce County crews will install large rocks weighing up to 15 tons as part of the annual levee repair program. These rocks will replace the existing levee rocks and make it more stable. Trucks and heavy equipment will access the levee via Bridge Street and 188th Street.

“This summer maintenance work is needed to protect people, property and public infrastructure when a lot of water is flowing in the Carbon River during the winter months,” said Harold Smelt, Pierce County Public Works surface water manager. “We understand these closures are inconvenient, so we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding.”

Pedestrians and cyclists will not be allowed through the worksite during the closure due to heavy equipment traffic and hazardous trail conditions. Flaggers will be on both ends of the closure during work hours to ensure people do not enter the barricaded construction zone.

Pierce County will post signs at trailheads and on either side of the work site warning trail users of the maintenance work and closures. People on the trail should use caution around the worksite and follow instructions from the crew.

If the trail is able to re-open during non-work hours, the trail surface may be rougher than normal, so trail users should use extreme caution. After the work is completed, the trail will be resurfaced if needed to repair any damages.

Due to federal, state and local environmental regulations, construction on most river projects must be done during the summer to avoid impacts to salmon.