Redmond segment of East Lake Sammamish Trail to open ahead of schedule, under budget

New pavement, fencing, parking lot added to 1.2-mile section through Redmond; King County planning re-opening ceremony for November

“This is an important regional corridor and I am pleased we can reopen this portion of the trail ahead of schedule, and for less cost than anticipated,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Walkers, runners, and cyclists will all benefit from having a trail that is wider and safer.”

Originally expected to open at year’s end at a cost of $3.4 million, the redevelopment project is now on track to open in early November at a cost of $1.86 million – a savings of more than $1.5 million. Funding for the East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) work was provided by the 2008-2013, voter-approved parks open space and trails levy. King County is planning a reopening celebration in November.

The trail from Northeast 70th Street to the Redmond-Sammamish border at 187th Street has gone from a crushed rock surface to a wider, paved trail that makes its use safer and more accessible to bicyclists, skaters and other trail users.

The trail project included construction of a 77-stall parking lot at Northeast 70th Street, adjacent the trail. The project was designed by Parametrix and constructed by Tri-State Construction.

King County purchased the 11-mile-long East Lake Sammamish rail banked corridor in 1998 for $2.9 million from the Lands Conservancy of King County and Seattle (now Cascade Land Conservancy). In 2006, the County opened an interim-use trail with a crushed rock surface.

Paving and other trail redevelopment work has been completed as funds become available. Next spring, King County will begin work on the stretch of the trail through Issaquah.

The ELST follows an historic railroad route along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish within the cities of Redmond, Sammamish and Issaquah. Part of the “Locks to Lakes Corridor,” the trail follows an off-road corridor along the lake and through lakeside communities.

East Lake Sammamish Trail is part of King County’s nationally acclaimed regional trail system – a 175-mile-long network of trails for bicycling, hiking, walking and horseback riding.
 
The regional trail system provides extensive opportunities for recreation and non-motorized mobility and commuting throughout King County. Once the ELST is fully developed, it will be part of a 44-mile-long regional urban trail corridor from Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to Issaquah.
 
More information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/eastlakesammamishtrail.

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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/.

Related information

East Lake Sammamish Trail

King County Parks