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. This 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 the Elliott Bay Trail and the Interbay and Magnolia neighborhoods to bicycle routes at the Fremont Bridge, including the Interurban route on Fremont Avenue North, the Burke-Gilman Trail, and the Dexter Avenue route, and will make bike riding in the south canal area more comfortable for all levels of bicyclists.
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.
Phase I of the multi-use Ship Canal Trail stretches from the Fremont Bridge to 6th Ave W and was completed in 1996.
For more information: LeAnne Nelson, (206) 684-3897
Media contact: Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548
