A missing link complete

11/17 UPDATE: Please join Cascade Ride Leaders on their rides to this historic event! Long-time ride leader Don Martin is leading a ride from Gasworks Park at a leisurely pace, and ride leader Sander Lazar is leading a ride from Bryant Park, in Wedgewood.

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The Ship Canal Trail is opening in a mere week, and all are invited to help SDOT celebrate. They're holding a Grand Opening Event on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. It'll take place on the grassy area below W Emerson Street Bridge, where the bridge intersects with 16th Ave. W:

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From SDOT:

This final phase of the Ship Canal Trail completes the connection from the Elliott Bay Trail and the Interbay and Magnolia neighborhoods to bicycle routes at the Fremont Bridge, including the Interurban route on Fremont Avenue North, the Burke-Gilman Trail, and the Dexter Avenue route.

Completion of this trail makes bike riding in the south canal area more comfortable for all levels of bicyclists and offers increased safety where cyclists and heavy industrial traffic have long shared traveling space.

Safety improvements include fencing all along the trail and a new railroad crossing signal installed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe along with switchbacks on either side to ensure cyclists slow down before approaching active tracks.

Questions? Please contact LeAnne Nelson at 206-684-3897 or at leanne.nelson@seattle.gov.

Ride on down and check out the great work they've been doing to connect our communities. Word is, the new trail makes it possible for one to travel from Redmond to downtown Seattle almost entirely on dedicated bike paths.

And that's definitely something to celebrate.