Chelan breaks ground on long-awaited Lakeside Trail Project

CHELAN — Construction has begun on the City of Chelan’s Lakeside Trail, a $3.8 million infrastructure project aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist safety along the W. Woodin Avenue/Highway 97A corridor.

The project will create a 1.05-mile shared-use path stretching from West Lakeshore Place to Water Street. It is designed to provide safer and more accessible travel for non-motorized users while improving connectivity between neighborhoods, local businesses, and the downtown core.

"This project is about more than just a trail—it's about building a safer, more connected community," said Jake Youngren, City of Chelan Public Works Director. "We're improving crossings, calming traffic, and creating a more inviting space for residents and visitors to walk, bike, and enjoy the lakeside corridor."

Key features include a 12-foot-wide shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, a landscaped buffer to separate the trail from the highway, improved pedestrian crossings—particularly at Waterslide Drive—upgraded public transit stops, and new roadway striping along US 97A. The project also involves environmental permitting and full construction management.

Construction is scheduled to take place Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout the summer and into the fall. Motorists should expect temporary lane shifts, flagger-controlled traffic, and reduced speed limits in the construction zone. Local access will be maintained, although occasional delays or temporary driveway closures may occur. Parking along W. Woodin Avenue/SR-97A will be prohibited as posted.

Sanitation services will continue as scheduled. Residents are advised to place bins at the edge of driveways without blocking the road. Water and sewer services will not be affected.

To accommodate the trail and landscaping along the lake side, a minor realignment of Highway 97A will shift the roadway slightly north.

The project is being constructed by KRCI LLC, a general contractor based in Eastern Washington with expertise in highways, utilities, and site development. Funding sources include a $2.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation, a $500,000 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board, an estimated $250,000 from Link Transit, and the remainder from the City of Chelan’s Street Fund.