December 21, 2017

Bike trail opens on SR 520 bridge

Photo from WSDOT [enlarge]

The bike trail connects Seattle and the Eastside, and 60 miles of regional trails.

Bicyclists can ride the entire length of the state Route 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington.

Yesterday WSDOT opened the 14-foot-wide trail to a crowd of riders and pedestrians. It connects Seattle and the Eastside, and connects to more than 60 miles of regional trails.

“We expect about 1,000 people each day on the SR 520 Trail, ranging from commuters to recreation seekers,” said SR 520 Program Administrator Denise Cieri in a news release. “We're excited to open it for people of all abilities using different modes of non-motorized transportation.”

The final piece of trail is part of the West Approach Bridge North Project that is being built by Flatiron West under a $199.5 million contract.

Users can reach the trail in Seattle from the Lake Washington Loop. Eastsiders, who have been using the trail for out-and-back excursions on the floating bridge, will now be able to get all the way to Seattle. They could only go halfway before.

“The new SR 520 bicycle pedestrian trail provides a safe and comfortable option and completes a decades-long vision,” said Richard Smith, Cascade Bicycle Club executive director. “The trail opens up so many choices — a more direct, safer, or shorter ride for commuters and different routes for weekend Lake Washington rides. It's an important step in our increasingly connected regional trail and transportation system.”

A new counter at the trailhead in Montlake will track bicyclist and pedestrian use in the 520 corridor. It was federally funded.

The SR 520 Trail will eventually connect to Interstate 5. The 520 program's next construction phase will build a new lid over the Montlake interchange with better bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities. Groundbreaking is set for late next year.

A video of the ride can be found below.