Major safety upgrades on Burke-Gilman Trail require trail closure in Lake Forest Park

Officials working on alternatives to get trail users around work zone

A long-awaited project to improve safety along the oldest and narrowest section of the Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park will require closure of a portion of the popular recreational and commuter corridor for up to six months.

King County will begin redeveloping a two-mile-long segment of the Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park from Northeast 145th Street to Logboom Park in Kenmore in spring 2011.

Because of the narrow corridor, limited trail access, topographic constraints and the extensive scope of construction work, the two-mile-long trail segment will close to all trail users.

“Closing a portion of the trail for several months will be difficult for trail users, but we believe they understand the long-term benefits of a safer and more enjoyable trail for many decades to come are worth this temporary inconvenience,” said Kevin Brown, director of the King County Parks and Recreation Division.

Local and state transportation officials, King County Parks, the cities of Lake Forest Park, Seattle and Kenmore, and the Cascade Bicycle Club are working to identify transportation alternatives and solutions for trail users when the corridor is closed.

Surveys of trail use show that more than 1,300 trips are made on the Burke-Gilman Trail through this section on weekdays, and the trail is used by many as part of their daily commute. On a sunny weekend the number of trips can jump to more than 2,200 in this location.

Trail redevelopment plans call for building a 12-foot-wide asphalt trail, installing soft-surface shoulders that walkers and runners can use, and enhanced intersection and crossing treatments. Upgrades also include a new bridge, improved sightlines and improved drainage.

The County has spent more than five years of planning and design work for this redevelopment project, with ongoing involvement of a citizen’s advisory group and in close coordination with the City of Lake Forest Park. Recreational groups have also been key partners in the project, including the Cascade Bicycle Club and Bicycle Alliance of Washington.

“Trail user safety is our top priority, and it’s why the County is dedicating the time and resources to correctly redevelop the trail,” Brown said. “We want to make these critical improvements as quickly as possible to minimize the impacts to trail users and nearby homeowners.”

Estimated total project cost is $5.2 million. Revenue sources include the voter-approved Parks Expansion Levy and the Real Estate Excise Tax.

The Burke-Gilman Trail runs more than 18 miles from Shilshole Bay in the City of Seattle to the City of Bothell where it intersects the County’s Sammamish River Trail. Part of the "Locks to Lakes Corridor," the trail crosses Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, the University District and View Ridge within the City of Seattle, as well as the cities of Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Bothell.

The trail is managed by Seattle within the city limits south of Northeast 145th Street and by King County outside Seattle. More information is available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/regionaltrailssystem/burkegilman.aspx.

King County offers several options to keep everyone up to date about the Burke-Gilman Trail redevelopment project, including the project website at www.kingcounty.gov/burkegilmantrail.

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King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 200 parks and 26,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks/.