Burke-Gilman extension project to improve commute to UW

The final designs for the Burke-Gilman Trail extension project are currently underway by the Seattle Department of Transportation, which upon completion will provide bicyclists with a safer commute to the UW campus from the Ballard district. Construction is to begin in 2003.

Scott Roberts, Seattle Transportation Project Manager, expects the completion of the trail all the way from the UW campus to Golden Gardens to not only provide easier access to recreational opportunities, but he also anticipates more convenient commutes for students traveling from Ballard.

"An extension will result in an easier and safer commute for students coming from West Ballard," Roberts said.

The extension project has been divided into three main sections, each of which will undergo construction at different times throughout the next few years. The first segment to undergo construction begins at the entrance to the Ballard Locks and continues to NW 60th Street. The second section, planned for construction in 2004, runs from 60th to Golden Gardens. Once these first two sections of the trail have been completed, there will be a gap between 11th Avenue NW, where the trail currently ends, to the entrance of the Locks at 30th Avenue NW.

This "missing link," or third portion of the extension project is currently being studied by both the transportation department staff and representatives from the community, and a construction date has yet to be set. To date, three alternative routes are being refined to determine which one best fits the needs of the community. Common concerns include the trail's potential affects on Ballard businesses and hazardous arterials such as Market Street. Although there are three different options for the "missing link," each alternative contains different routes that can be substituted for others, possibly resulting in an end design that will reflect all three options.

Now that alternatives are being finalized, the Seattle Department of Transportation is adjusting its projected budget and is making final modifications to the work plan. Once construction is underway in 2003, pedestrians and bicyclists can expect small delays in their current commute on the Burke Gilman Trail.

"During construction, there may be some disruptions with current undefined bicycle commuting routes," Roberts said.

The Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the most heavily used bicycle routes in the Seattle area, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.