The Elliott Bay Trail bike path is currently closed for construction work, with an expected reopening in August. This closure is part of the major overhaul of Belltown’s Centennial Park. Meanwhile, the waterfront pedestrian path remains accessible, and cyclists are encouraged to utilize it as a detour, provided they yield to pedestrians.
The construction project, which commenced in March, has recently expanded to encompass the entire bike trail north of the Olympic Sculpture Park. A public-private partnership known as Elliott Bay Connections has mobilized to manage the work, which is progressing rapidly in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup matches Set to take place in Seattle starting June 2026.
Emily Crawford, a spokesperson for Elliott Bay Connections, shared updates last week. “This week, we expanded the construction zone to include the full length of the existing bike trail in both Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks,” she stated.
From now until August, access through Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Park will be facilitated via a temporary multiuse trail, utilizing the existing pedestrian pathway. Bicyclists and pedestrians can enter and exit the trail at designated points: Beach at Expedia, Thomas Street Bridge, and Olympic Sculpture Park.
Looking ahead, once work on the separated bike trail concludes in August, efforts will quickly shift to the waterfront pedestrian path and surrounding landscaping, leading to further closures. This transition means that pedestrian detours will continue, with cyclists and walkers sharing a single pathway from August 2025 until May 2026. With the peak summer season approaching, the combined traffic could result in crowding, necessitating a slower pace for cyclists in the affected areas.
The Port of Seattle owns this section of the waterfront park, and workers are taking measures to maintain access for both pedestrians and cyclists during construction. Crawford emphasized that the work is designed to be conducted in phases to limit the impact on park users, as well as sensitive fish and wildlife.
Although the bike path refurbishment will not include a widening of the trail, there is optimism that certain challenging sections will be improved. For instance, the blind corner behind the closed fishing pier bathroom is set for a complete overhaul, with the bathroom already demolished in preparation for the new facility.
The enhancements on the bike trail are anticipated to attract even more users, prompting concerns that policymakers may regret not expanding the bike lane dimensions while they had the opportunity. As previously noted by The Urbanist, Seattle is developing a bike network that might struggle to accommodate its growing popularity. Wider paths could become essential in the near future.
As part of the broader waterfront project, Elliott Bay Connections is also planning to restart public fishing from the Centennial Park fishing pier, which has been closed since 2016 due to structural issues. They are considering introducing a concession stand at this location, alongside plans for artistic projections on the Terminal 86 grain facility.
In collaboration with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Elliott Bay Connections is set to establish a new multiuse greenway spanning three-quarters of a mile from Pier 62, right at the entrance of Pike Place Market, to the Olympic Sculpture Park’s edge. This greenway will replace the former waterfront streetcar tracks and include new landscaping features along with the multipurpose trail. Notably, the project will not affect the street itself, which is part of a strategy aimed at expediting construction ahead of the World Cup.
Within the road, SDOT is also constructing a protected bike lane on the waterfront side of Alaskan Way. However, it will be temporarily closed when cruise ships are loading and unloading, directing users towards the greenway or forcing them into the street, should they choose to brave that route. Although this is an improvement over the original design featuring two permanent street crossings, there are still concerns about safety and usability.
Separately, the Elliott Bay Trail is undergoing enhancements through Interbay as part of another Port of Seattle initiative. Trail users should expect further improvements and construction detours farther north. This project includes the removal of the Terminal 91 trail bridge and rectifying the adjacent single-file pinch point that many users find inconvenient.
The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2019 revealed tremendous potential for the waterfront, now free from the pollution and noise of the previous double-decker highway. However, the benefits for bikers, pedestrians, and all individuals traveling along the waterfront have only recently been finalized and are being delivered.
In March, the Downtown Waterfront Park celebrated the grand opening of its new 1.2-mile protected bike lane, albeit after some delays. This two-way bike lane was one of the final components of the $806 million waterfront revitalization project. Since then, the Overlook Walk leading to Pike Place Market opened in October 2024, shortly after the launch of the Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion. Later this year, the reconstructed Pier 58, marking a significant milestone in the waterfront park’s development, is also set to open.
While it has taken considerable time to reach this point, the community will soon benefit from a revived and connected bike and pedestrian path along Seattle’s Elliott Bay waterfront. With exciting attractions along the route, these improvements herald a new era for outdoor activities and community engagement in the area.
image source from：https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/04/23/elliott-bay-trail-upgrades-temporarily-close-waterfront-bike-path/
