Bear Creek Trail Improvements

After wrapping the final segment of construction of the Bear Creek Trail and soft-surface parallel trail project, the full trail experience is now open to residents and visitors! The contractor will continue to visit the site to tend to wash out areas and complete landscaping improvements over the next month. Happy trails!

The final phase of construction for the Bear Creek Trail project from Kipling Parkway to Kipling Street will begin Monday, August 14. This phase is anticipated to take approximately six weeks, weather dependent. Detours are in place. For your safety, please be respectful of trail closures and follow posted signage on site.

Great news! Most of Phase 4 of the Bear Creek Trail project from S. Kipling St. to S. Estes St. will open Friday, May 26 for public use.

Trail construction will then commence on the final segment of the concrete trail, occurring 600 feet east of the S. Kipling St. pedestrian bridge and lasting approximately three weeks. Trail users will use the new soft-surface path in this segment for the duration of the detour. For your safety, please respect trail closures.

Phase 4 of the Bear Creek Trail project was targeted for completion early this year when a pair of nesting owls moved in near the west end of the completed segment and halted work in the area until the week of May 15. It is a federal law not to disturb nesting raptors, the City of Lakewood took every precaution to be sure the owls were not disturbed.

By May 18, it was confirmed the owls had left the nest permanently and the contractor was cleared to mobilize into the area from the ‘causeway’ west to the Kipling St. bridge. The contractor plans to install the soft-surface path in this segment and use it for a detour around the work area while the concrete is replaced. Once the soft-surface trail is complete, the city will open the trail from S. Estes St. to S. Kipling St.

The concrete replacement will take two to three weeks, weather permitting. The contractor will then begin replacing the trail from S. Kipling St. to Kipling Pkwy to conclude the project.

Thank you for your patience!

On Monday, April 17, The trail from the Stonehouse, located at 2900 S. Estes St., to access the Bear Creek Trail has reopened following the installation of the new Stonehouse bridge. Thank you for your patience, we hope you enjoy!

​

Video of the bridge install

Update Feb. 27- Phase 6 of the Bear Creek Trail is now open from S. Kipling St. to Fox Hollow Lane. The only current closures are the Bear Creek Trail from S. Estes to S. Kipling Streets and the Stonehouse Bridge.

The Bear Creek Trail from S. Kipling Parkway to S. Kipling Street will be closed beginning Monday, Feb. 20 for construction. For your safety, respect closures and utilize detours that are in place. This closure is expected to take approximately one week, weather dependant.

Click to enlarge

The trail from the Stonehouse, located at 2900 S. Estes St., to access the Bear Creek Trail will be closed beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4 for work on the Stonehouse bridge. For your safety, respect closures and utilize detours that are in place.

Progress update on the Bear Creek Trail construction occurring between S. Estes St. and S. Kipling Pkwy:

• The long duration of the Phase 4 detour is due to the structural work at the Estes St. underpass and the replacement of the “Beaver Dam” or “90-degree” bridge between Estes and Kipling. The safety improvements under Estes include realignment of the trail approaches to improve trail slope, width and sightlines. This change requires new walls at the edge of the creek and storm drain extensions on both sides of Estes.
• The new bridge in this reach will span the creek at a lesser angle to soften the approach curves to improve safety. The bridge will feature mid-span “outlookers” to allow users to get off the trail and enjoy the view or snap some Instagram pics.
• A new, natural surface trail loop, south of the main trail, will provide access to a new addition to the greenbelt, providing an elevated view of the valley above the 90-degree bridge.