Alert: Interurban North Trail will close for 10 months near Lynnwood Transit Center

Construction to prepare Lynnwood Transit Center for light rail and build a parking garage will close the Interurban North Trail between 52nd Ave W and 44th Ave W for two years starting May 12, according to Sound Transit.

This is a significant change from the initial closure schedule announced in the fall, which anticipated only two months of closures in 2021 and six months in 2022.

The detour route is unchanged from the initial announcement. It includes a busy stretch of 200th St SW and the sidewalk of 44th Ave W (there is no curb cut from 44th to the trail, so the sidewalk is the only option unless Sound Transit adds a ramp). I suspect most users will use the sidewalk on both 200th St and 44th Ave in both directions, even though it's really not wide enough for heavy mixed use. Cedar Valley Rd and 52nd Ave W both have painted bike lanes.

The Interurban North Trail is the primary bike route from Everett to Seattle and points in between, following the right-of-way from a former electric streetcar line (this is the Interurban" those statues in Fremont are waiting for). The last train ran in 1939, and many parts of the right-of-way have since been chopped up, especially by the construction of I-5. Surviving sections serve as vital sections of an important regional bike route, but there is a lot of work to do to make it a complete route comfortable for people of all ages and abilities to use.

Details from Sound Transit:

Beginning Monday, July 12, Sound Transit will close the Interurban Trail between 52nd Ave W and 44th Ave W near the Lynnwood Transit Center for ten months, reopening on May 1, 2022. A detour will be provided for trail users. During the closure, crews will continue building the Lynnwood City Center Station, the new parking garage and restore the Scriber Creek area.

What

In July, the Interurban Trail will close for ten months to allow for construction of the Lynnwood City Center Station.

When

Closure beginning Monday, July 12 and reopening on May 1, 2022.

Where

The Interurban Trail will be closed between 52nd Ave S and 44th Ave W. (see map)

More

• Follow all detour signage and stay within marked trail detours.
• Due to inclement weather or unforeseen issues, dates and times are subject to change