Lynnwood trail study will examine a possible I-5 walking and biking overcrossing

Snohomish County Public Works has launched a planning study examining ways to close a gap in the Interurban Trail near Maple Road and Interstate 5 in Lynnwood.

The study began July 14, 2026, and will evaluate—but does not approve or guarantee—the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle overcrossing of I-5. It also will examine new walking and biking facilities along Maple and Butternut roads and the feasibility of extending the trail through a Snohomish Public Utility District utility corridor.

Study focuses on an I-5 barrier

The county says I-5 creates a significant barrier for people walking, biking, rolling or using wheelchairs between nearby neighborhoods, schools, parks, transit and other destinations.

The project page identifies the study area along Maple Road from Ash Way to Butternut Road. Possible connections include Lynnwood Park, Lynnwood High School and potentially North Road. The PUD-corridor route remains an option under study; the county has not selected or cleared it for construction.

The City of Lynnwood describes its portion of the Interurban Trail as a 3.8-mile, 12-foot-wide, hard-surfaced regional bicycle and pedestrian trail that is mostly separated from motor-vehicle traffic. The broader route continues through North Seattle, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, unincorporated Snohomish County and Everett.

Potential links to transit and Lynnwood Regional Center

Snohomish County says the study is intended to identify ways to improve connections to the Lynnwood Regional Center, transit, Lynnwood High School and other community destinations. The county also lists improved multimodal access and increased access to light-rail stations among the potential benefits.

Those are goals of the study, not measured outcomes. No new overcrossing, trail extension or road facility has been built through this project, and the county has not announced construction dates, final designs, property impacts or total construction costs.

Study funding and county program listing

The study is funded by a $250,000 grant from the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program, supported by funding from Washington’s Climate Commitments Act. The county’s project record identifies the work as project RC1830.

Snohomish County’s adopted 2026 Annual Construction Plan also lists the Interurban Trail/Maple Road at I-5 Overcrossing Improvements as project C.43, project number 1830, with $178,000 shown under SWCC funding. That listing provides transportation-program context; it does not establish that construction of an overcrossing or trail extension has been approved.

HeraldNet‘s July 14 report corroborated the study’s scope, grant funding and public-engagement plans. The project is part of the broader regional Interurban Trail system, while the current study is focused on the Maple Road and I-5 gap near Lynnwood.

Residents can comment through Sept. 30

The county’s current project page says the online open house is live through Sept. 30, 2026. Residents can review the project information and submit feedback through the county’s online participation form and survey.

The July 14 county announcement said an online open house and an in-person community event were planned for later in the summer and fall. The current project page confirms the online open house deadline but does not establish that a specific in-person event has occurred or provide a final event schedule.

Sources

• Interurban Trail and Maple Road Overcrossing at I-5 Improvements project page
• Snohomish County Public Works launches Interurban Trail improvements study
• Interurban Trail — City of Lynnwood