The City of Kirkland purchased ownership of the 5.75 miles of Kirkland’s segment of the Eastside Rail Corridor, now called the Cross Kirkland Corridor, from the Port of Seattle on April 13.

The Cross Kirkland Corridor has long been recognized by Kirkland residents and business owners as an opportunity for connecting neighbors, businesses and for creating active (non-motorized) transportation options though Kirkland.

The city’s Transportation Commission will be initiating a Master Plan process that will guide future enhancements to the corridor over the next year.  In the meantime, the city will take some initial/immediate steps to improve the usability and safety of the corridor. For example, concrete barriers have been placed where the corridor crosses streets to prevent automobiles from entering the corridor.

Starting next week, a 6-foot chain link fence will be installed on the railings of the bridges over NE 68th Street and Kirkland Way. The fences are an interim improvement that will add to the safety of the bridges.

Work for the Kirkland Way overpass fencing is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 25 and continue through April 26. This work is weather dependent. Crews will work from 7 a.m. to at least 3:30 p.m.

Work on the NE 68th Street overpass fencing is scheduled for Saturday, April 28. This work is not dependent on good weather. Saturday work (instead of a weekday) was allowed to minimize conflicts with traffic and children walking to and from school. Crews will be working between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures at both locations when crews are working over the roadway; traffic will be redirected to one lane with flagging operations in effect.

There may be inconvenience associated with driving through the work zone; traffic control and flagging operations will be in effect when necessary.

For more information on the project call the 24-hour project information hotline 425-587-3838 or contact Kari Page, neighborhood outreach coordinator, 425-587-3011.