Bikers rejoice: The Burke Gilman's missing link is (nearly) under construction Now rolled into 'Ballard Multimodal' project, the fix has been years in the making

Construction proceeds, Tuesday, on the Ballard Multimodal Corridor Project, near NW Market Street and NW 54th Street, as workers dig exploratory holes to confirm underground utility locations, March 26, 2019. Construction proceeds, Tuesday, on the Ballard Multimodal Corridor Project, near NW Market Street and NW 54th Street, as workers dig exploratory holes to confirm underground utility locations, March 26, 2019. Photo: Genna Martin Photo: Genna Martin Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Bikers rejoice: The Burke Gilman's missing link is (nearly) under construction 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Not since the Darwinian times has a missing link been so sought after. And yet, years later and with plenty of arguments for and against it, Seattle's own missing link will soon be found -- or, more accurately, constructed.

Though it's still in the early phases, the city of Seattle started in advance of construction on the Burke-Gilman trail's missing link, now folded within the Ballard Multimodal Corridor project.

The new name is an umbrella term for work beyond just the Burke; new roadway paving, signal improvements, transit poles, sidewalks and storm drainage along Northwest Market Street and Shilshole Avenue Northwest.

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Construction will happen in phases, divided between the two streets above, and began last week with exploratory excavations (before the "Market phase" starts later this year) between the Ballard Locks and 24th Avenue Northwest.

Photo: SDOT SDOT shares their timeline for construction the Burke-Gilman...

One lane of traffic at Northwest Market and Northwest 54th Street will be closed so crews can dig holes about 3 feet wide and 10 feet deep to confirm underground utility locations, in order to understand where to install King County Metro transit and Seattle Department of Transportation signal poles.

During that time, King County Metro will provide temporary bus stops during construction.

The completion of the 20-mile Burke-Gilman trail has been a project long in the making. The "missing link," as it's known, is a 1.4-mile segment stretching through Ballard where the trail is not complete -- with the city including the link in its comprehensive plan since the early 1990s.

RELATED: Connelly: $23.5 million pricetag for 1.4-mile stretch of Burke-Gilman Trail

One of the primary concerns about the missing link has been how it will impact the local economy around the Shilshole corridor. In December 2018, appeals challenged the final environmental impact statement, and SDOT was ultimately required to perform additional analysis regarding the potential economic impact on businesses, as well as conflicts between industrial traffic and trail users.

Photo: Seattle Department Of Transportation SDOT shares their map of the Burke-Gilman's "missing link."

"Design of the Ballard Multimodal Corridor improvements recognize the importance of Ballard's manufacturing and industrial community and will maintain truck and freight access to the industrial and water-dependent businesses adjacent to the corridor," SDOT said on its site.

The additional review is expected to be completed in spring 2019. You can read more about the project at SDOT's website.