It’s been about a year since the Department of Natural Resources f(DNR) announced plans to build a new trailhead and parking lot off Mt. Si Road – and after multiple meetings with area residents, which included addressing concerns raised by residents who for years have regularly dealt with hikers illegally parking on their property, DNR has finally broken ground on the project.
DNR Project Manager Laura Cooper said via email that construction commenced this week on the 100+ stall trailhead parking lot and connector trail that will provide access to the Mount Teneriffe Trail and its popular summit viewpoint and waterfall access.
DNR completed the necessary environmental review and permitting last summer/fall and then put the project out to bid in January. Weber Construction will take on the project. According to the DNR project page, Weber is “a local firm with experience constructing forested trailheads, including the Mailbox Peak and Denny Creek Trailheads.”
The trailhead project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2017. Construction hours in the area are 7AM-7PM, Monday through Friday. Area trails will remain open during construction.
Residents’ concerns expressed during meetings last year were addressed, including Mt. Si Road safety. King County granted DNR’s Police Officers the authority to enforce traffic and parking regulations on county roads, which will allow DNR officers to enforce parking infractions that commonly occur in the area – and have become increasingly troublesome for local residents – during hiking season.
DNR stated it will also continue to work with Mt. Si Road neighbors and King County to improve signage, enforcement and parking along Mt. Si Road. Some residents had expressed concern last year that adding a new trailhead and more parking would only lead to more hikers in the area that was already facing parking infractions on the tight, two-lane winding road.
Some residents were also concerned all the overflow parking along Mt. Si Road, where the popular Mount Si trailheads are also located, forces hikers to walk in the middle of the road, putting them at risk for being hit by a vehicle.
