Following death, I-90 Trail reopens in Bellevue with construction zone flaggers rather than a detour: RIP James Rupert William Phillips

From the North Mercer Island/Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project email list.

The I-90 Trail has reopened in Bellevue, and sewer construction crews will staff the trail with flaggers to help trail users through the area safely without the need for a detour. Users are advised to anticipate delays up to ten minutes long if crews are using the trail to move construction vehicles.

The change went into effect Tuesday, less than a week after an SUV driver struck and killed a person biking on Bellevue Way SE at SE 30th Street October 15, which is adjacent to the trail detour route that was put in place October 12. The King County Medical Examiner has identified the man killed as James Rupert William Phillips. He was 57.

Our condolences to his friends and family.

As we reported, it is not publicly known at this time exactly which route Phillips had taken or what his intent was in crossing, but the fact that it happened along a fresh detour raised alarm bells. We do not know publicly at this time if the detour played a role, but we suggested in our previous post that the sewer project team should take extra care to ensure the route is clearly communicated and to discourage anyone from trying to cross that dangerous intersection. Best Side Cycling also made a video with a similar suggestions. The project team has responded by removing the detour entirely. The detour was initially expected to be in place for three to four weeks but was only in place for one week.

From the North Mercer Island/Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project email list:

As of October 20, the Mercer Slough Connector Trail has reopened (see map). Construction will continue around the clock, and trail users could see flaggers at three locations directing pedestrians and cyclists.

Trail users should expect delays of up to 10 minutes while crews move construction vehicles, equipment, and materials through the work zone. The City of Bellevue has reviewed and approved this updated plan to reopen the trail with flaggers.

Please travel slowly through the area and follow all signs, traffic control signals, and directions from crews.

I am glad the team has taken action here, but the revelation that they could have used flaggers instead of a detour raises the question of why that wasn't the plan from the start. When a trail is completely closed, there's an element of community trust that there was no other option since closing the trail should obviously be the very last option. We have argued many times that King County needs a quality trail detour policy that sets standards for when a trail can be closed and how a detour must function to serve all trail users. Unfortunately, this has now become a top issue worthy of urgent action from King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and/or the King County Council.