Published October 2 2013
Long-awaited improvements to part of West Lake Sammamish Parkway, including a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on the west side and a paved shoulder on the east side, will be complete on Friday.
To the relief thousands of commuters, the southbound lane will reopen by the end of that day, 10 months after the beginning of construction and seven months after the southbound detour was put into effect. Crews will finish final work with intermittent day-time lane closures as the project comes to a close.
To thank travelers impacted by the lane closure for their patience and cooperation while the lane was closed, the City of Bellevue and SAMBICA Camp and Retreat Center will co-host a community celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 1-2:30 p.m. at SAMBICA Dining Hall, 4114 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy. S.E.
The project restored pavement and provided a multi-use trail along the west side of the arterial along a mile-long stretch between Interstate 90 and Southeast 34th Street. Parkway users will see a new paved four-foot shoulder on the east side of the roadway, a mile-long multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on the west side, new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, new storm drains and water mains.
The construction on the southern section of the parkway was the first phase of a five-phase project to improve all of the roadway. Construction began in January. Without the southbound detour, the project would have taken 18 months.