Construction begins on final link of East Lake Sammamish Trail

2005 Archived News

Construction is under way on the final link of the East Lake Sammamish Trail and it is possible King County residents will be able to walk or ride the entire length of the long-awaited eastside trail as early as mid-December.

Trimaxx Construction of Sedro-Woolley began prepping the trail for construction last week by setting up silt fencing along the length of the Sammamish segment. Construction is expected to wrap up by mid-December and thereby link the Redmond and Issaquah portions and complete the 11-mile interim trail.

For safety reasons, the contractor is asking the public to refrain from using the trail until construction is complete.

"Trails are an important part of our community’s quality of life, not only for recreation and physically fitness but also as a transportation link," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "I am so pleased that we have started construction on this crucial trail link between the cities of Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond and that we are that much closer to leaving this wonderful eastside legacy for many generations to enjoy."

The interim trail will be constructed of compacted five-eighths minus gravel spread on top of the existing rail bed and will not be appropriate for thin tired road bikes or inline skates. Construction is beginning at the north end of the Sammamish segment and will proceed south.

The final paved trail will be constructed when a master plan is adopted by the King County Council and all relevant permits obtained. The Master Plan is expected to be submitted to council in 2006.

Residents with questions about trail construction can contact project manager Mike Lozano at 206-296-4240. For property questions (encroachments and special use permits), contact property agent Robert Nunnenkamp at 206-263-6207.

In 1998, King County purchased the 11-mile East Lake Sammamish rail banked corridor for $2.9 million from the Lands Conservancy of King County and Seattle (now Cascade Land Conservancy), which had preserved the option for public ownership of the trail when it stepped up to purchase the rail corridor from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. In 2000, the Metropolitan King County Council unanimously approved a plan for interim use of the trail. Following five years of extensive environmental review, public outreach and input, and much litigation, Sims said the county's vision for a public trail is finally becoming a reality.

In May of this year the county announced all permits necessary to construct the trail had been obtained. Following that, the Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC) Transportation Policy Board approved crucial funding for the trail allowing the county to move forward with using the federal transportation funds allocated for construction of the section of the interim trail in the City of Sammamish. The total cost to construct the trail is $1.6 million with $900,000 coming from federal transportation funds and the rest from real estate excise taxes set aside for parks and recreation.

Sims said the East Lake Sammamish Trail will enhance what is already one of the finest metropolitan trail systems in the U.S., with 40 miles of continuous non-motorized trail. A cyclist starting in Ballard can follow the Burke Gilman Trail past the University of Washington to the north end of Lake Washington. From there the Sammamish River Trail runs east and south to Marymoor Park. The East Lake Sammamish Trail will run from Marymoor to Issaquah, where the cyclist will have the opportunity to turn east and head up Snoqualmie Pass on the Iron Horse Trail, part of the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway.

The county has invested over $20 million to acquire, develop and restore a system of 175 miles of trails -- a model for the nation. This includes acquiring roughly 525 acres of new trail facilities and almost 20 miles of new developed trail. King County's trail plan calls for more than 300 miles of trails that link communities.