What is the Eastrail?

The Eastrail, formerly known as the Eastside Rail Corridor, will be an uninterrupted, 42-mile trail connecting the communities of Renton, Newcastle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville, Redmond, and Snohomish, providing new opportunities for non-motorized recreation and transportation. Currently, 13 miles of the Eastrail are open.

WSDOT, in partnership with King County Parks, is overseeing construction of 2.5 miles of new paved Eastrail in Renton and Bellevue. A second phase of trail construction scheduled for 2021 will build a new crossing over Interstate 405 in Bellevue near the Mercer Slough.

Take a look at future trail connections.

Explore King County trails via the King County Parks TrailFinder.

In addition to the 2.5 miles of new trail south of I-90, the I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project will also build a trail bridge over I-405 in Bellevue. This I-405 trail overpass construction project is scheduled for 2021. Stay tuned for more information about that addition to the Eastrail in 2021.

Renton to Bellevue Eastrail construction timeline from 2020 to 2021

• November 2020 through April 2021 - Eastrail closed for construction
• May 2021 - Eastrail open*

* New trail segment opening dates are planned for spring 2021, but will be determined by construction progress

What to expect from construction

Crews are working at multiple locations along the trail at once. Full trail closures allow crews a safe space to excavate, build retaining walls and drainage structures, widen the trail, and pave.

The construction timeline for 2.5 miles of new Eastrail between Renton and Bellevue has shifted and is now scheduled to open in May 2021, with possible interim openings before then. Since June 2020 construction crews have been working between Ripley Lane and Coal Creek Parkway Southeast to prepare for the newly expanded paved and gravel trail. The challenges of 2020 have extended construction timelines, but King County Parks, WSDOT and the contractor Flatiron-Lane are coordinating closely to open the Eastrail in phases to allow the public to enjoy the trail as much as possible until construction is complete. This reopening will include opening interim trail sections as gravel before they are fully paved. Interim trail opening dates will be shared in 2021 as construction progresses.

During the interim openings of these trail segments, the trail surface will be compacted gravel (similar to pre-construction conditions). Crews will briefly close trail segments before May 2021 to complete paving and other final trail construction, work is scheduled to conclude in May 2021. The completed 20-foot-wide trail will offer users both paved and gravel surfaces to enjoy, as well as illumination at road crossings. 

People who live, work or travel near the trail should expect:

• Trucks and equipment on local streets and entering the work areas via Ripley Lane North, 106th Avenue Southeast, and Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast.
• Crews working Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and occasional Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Currently, all work is planned for daytime hours only.
• Noise expected from typical construction activities. Minimal expected vibration or dust.
• Construction fencing, water runoff containment, and other signs of construction along open sections of trail.

Segment One: Ripley Lane North to Hazelwood Lane Southeast

Trail closed for construction: June 29, 2020

Expected opening: May 2021

Alternate route: Lake Washington Loop Trail, which parallels this portion of the Eastrail just to the east.

Other notes: A short section of Ripley Lane North at the south end of the work zone will become a one-way street controlled by signs, flaggers or temporary traffic signals. The street's southbound lane will be turned into a barrier-protected pedestrian path to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Lake Washington Loop Trail detour.

Segment Two: Hazelwood Lane Southeast to Newcastle Beach Park

Trail closed for construction: September 2020

Expected opening: May 2021

Alternate route: None. There are no viable dedicated-path detour options in this constrained area between Lake Washington and I-405. People riding bicycles can use 106th Avenue Southeast/Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast to traverse this 1.2-mile closure.

Other notes: Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations related to a bald eagle nest along this section of trail constrain the window of time in which crews are allowed to work nearby. Crews will have an eagle monitor present when working in this area in 2021.

Segment Three: Newcastle Beach Park to Coal Creek

Trail closed for construction: June 2020

Expected opening: May 2021

Alternate route: No alternate route is required, as the trail is not open. The Lake Washington Loop Trail (bike lane on 118th Avenue Southeast) resumes at Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast and heads north.

Other notes: Work on this section of trail includes two fish passages that will pass beneath the trail alignment.

New trail design

Compared to the current gravel trail, the new trail will offer a better experience for runners, walkers, bikers and families. The trail will be one of the widest in the region, with a 12-foot paved trail, plus a 2-foot gravel shoulder on one side and 6 feet of gravel on the other side. This mixed-surface path offers people on the trail a choice of surfaces and provides more space between people walking and biking.

In addition to a wider trail, lighting will be installed at each road/trail crossing to help improve overall trail safety. People who frequently ride bikes on trails will also notice the significantly reduced number of bollards in this 2.5 miles of new paved trail.

ADA access: Curb ramps, where required, will be ADA-compliant.

Parking: There will be no new parking created as part of this trail project, but parking will remain at Newcastle Beach Park in Bellevue.

Trees and vegetation

Construction will require removing some trees along the trail alignment. We preserve trees wherever we can. Where a tree must be removed, it will be replaced as part of the vegetation planting plan for the new sections of trail.

If you have any questions about vegetation removal or planting, please contact the project team at 425-456-8624 or I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov.