The Burke-Gilman bike trail's 1 1/2-mile missing link in Ballard could open in two years.
Funding for the trail project is included in the proposed 2009-2010 budget for the city of Seattle.
If you're wondering why it has taken so long to complete this section from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Ballard locks, consider the $14.1 million overall pricetag. The city is including $8.6 million in its upcoming budget for the work, and the remainder is to come from King County.
The Seattle Times reports:
“Work could start by April on the section from 11th to 17th avenues, including below the Ballard Bridge, followed by groundbreaking nine to 12 months later on the other part.”
Currently, the Burke-Gilman ends as a trail proper at 11th Avenue, and continues along the industrial waterfront of Ballard toward the Hiram Chittenden Locks. There is on-street parking, intersections, and railroad tracks for cyclists to contend with on this section immediately east of the Locks.
West of the Locks, the city completed an approximately mile-long final section to Golden Gate Park this spring, pictured above. This route passes several marinas before ending at the park on the Puget Sound.
Trail network
With the completion of this long-awaited section through the Ballard neighborhood, the popular trail will stretch for more than 20 miles from the Golden Gardens Park on Puget Sound to its terminus at the Sammamish River Trail in Bothell.
Along the way it passes through communities of Ballard, Fremont, University of Washington campus, Sheridan Beach, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore.
After hooking up with the Sammamish River Trail, cyclists can continue east over the Tolt Pipeline Trail to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in Duvall or south to East Lake Sammamish Trail and into Issaquah.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels made the announcement at the international Pro Walk / Pro Bike Conference meeting at the Westin hotel in Seattle. Here's the press release on the Burke-Gilman trail funding.
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