As part of ongoing work to make road and other infrastructure repairs following this winter’s intense flooding and rainfall, the Snoqualmie Valley Trail will be closed to walking and biking “as soon as February 16” as crews work to repair the nearby SE Edgewick Road, according to an alert from King County.
This is a very unusual closure because the trail is closed not to repair it but because it is the only viable alternative vehicle detour around the closed roadway for a handful of properties west of the worksite that would be otherwise cut-off from the road network while roadway repairs are underway. “This portion of the trail will be temporarily closed to pedestrian and bicycle users to facilitate safer conditions for vehicle traffic,” according to the project webpage.
It is understandable that these properties need basic roadway access during the 6–8 week closure, and there truly does not seem to be any other option. These are extenuating circumstances. But there is also no viable detour for trail users in this area, and trail users are also members of the public worth serving. This closure creates a similar problem as a bridge replacement project in early autumn 2024. The only real alternative option for folks biking between North Bend and Rattlesnake Lake is to bike on Cedar Falls Road SE, which can be busy (especially on a nice day) and has limited to non-existent shoulders. Discretion is advised.
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Given the options, I’d much rather bike on the trail with a limited number of cars using it for temporary property access than ride on Cedar Falls Road. The temporary road access route will not be a through-route, so it shouldn’t have significant traffic flow. People bike mixed with cars on skinny streets all the time, and bikes are legal vehicles that are generally allowed on roadways except for a handful of limited access freeways. The detour instructions on the project website tell people driving on the trail to “keep speed under 10 mph.” If there were some other nearby sidewalk they could use to route trail users, then maybe I could see banning biking and walking on the trail. But King County has no safe detour to offer and does not plan to sign one.
King County Parks has gotten into a bad habit of treating trail trips as optional, but that isn’t always true. Sure, those who are just looking for a nice ride and don’t really care where they go should consider a different route. But there are jobs and homes out there, and people rely on King County trails for transportation. One third of U.S. residents cannot drive, and there is limited transit service in the area (no transit service on weekends). There will also certainly be folks who do not read Seattle Bike Blog and will be surprised by this closure in the middle of a rather remote area. They deserve to be offered a viable option. King County Parks needs to revise its policies so that “there will be no detour” is not longer treated as a catch-all phrase to absolve them of their responsibility to people who use and rely on these trails.
More details from King County Parks:
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As soon as February 16, a segment of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail will be closed to people biking and walking to allow for temporary vehicle access while SE Edgewick Road undergoes repairs. The anticipated duration of this closure is approximately 6–8 weeks.
There will be no detour available during this closure.
When King County Parks closes a trail, safety is our top priority. We carefully evaluate whether a detour is feasible for each closure. Because regional trails are accessible, multi-use facilities, any detour must safely accommodate pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities and meet ADA requirements.
In this location, it is not possible to provide a detour that meets these safety and accessibility standards. We recognize that trail closures are disruptive. King County Parks remains committed to providing advance notice whenever possible, carefully planning the scope and timing of work to minimize impacts, and completing projects as quickly and efficiently as conditions allow.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we complete this important work.