Construction on the long-awaited final segment of the Ship Canal Trail is expected to begin in early September and be complete by the end of the year. The Seattle Department of Transportation project will connect the trail from 11th Avenue West to Emerson Street near Fisherman?s Terminal, eliminating a critical gap in Seattle?s Urban Trails System.
The Ship Canal Trail will connect Magnolia to bicycle routes at the Fremont Bridge, including the Interurban route on Fremont Avenue North, the Burke-Gilman Trail, and the Dexter Avenue route.
This Ship Canal Trail work is the second contract in phase II of the project. Phase II was split into two contracts so that construction could move forward on the section from 6th Avenue W to 11th Avenue W, completed in 2010, while hurdles were overcome on the remaining segment. Those hurdles included negotiation of permits to move private utility lines to a new location, necessary before Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks could then also be relocated. The relocation of those tracks is wrapping up this month.
Construction of the trail is funded in part by the voter-supported Bridging the Gap levy, passed in 2006.
Nice, but doesn’t solve the real problem for riders since the trail abruptly ends at West Emerson Pl & 21st. I ride all over Seattle and the rest of King County – the west-bound stretch of West Emerson at Fisherman’s Terminal is extremely hazardous, since currently the alternative is a “trail to nowhere” at the western end. Granted however, completion of the eastern end trail connector to Queen Anne will make it much safer for cyclists – we can stay off of the flyover. But the challenge now is to make the trail connect safely with the Gilman Avenue bike lanes.?
Please, it’s not a ‘bike’ trail…
Thank goodness. I rode on the flyover this morning and wondered if we’d ever see this connection happen. Wonderful news!
Thank goodness. This project had been stalled for years.
The flyover wasn’t bad (just an unnecessary climb) when riding a bike eastbound out of Magnolia to either the bridge entrance or Nickerson, but getting on and off that flyover heading toward Magnolia was a nightmare.
I ride this everyday and welcome this improvement, let me know of I can help!