Cedar River trail closed for more repairs

The Cedar River Trail, barely recovered from the effects of high water more than two years ago, is partially closed in Maple Valley for repairs of damage caused by flooding of the river last week.

The closed segment is between 196th Avenue Southeast and Southeast Cedar Grove Road. Repairs are underway and may take as long as one week to finish, according to the King County Parks Department, which maintains the trail.

Another section of the trail, beneath the underpass at 156th Avenue Southeast off State Route 169, is also closed due to standing water.

The closures come about four months after part of the trail was closed for six weeks, starting in August, for repairs of damaged caused by flooding in November 2006.

Also in Maple Valley, and as a result of the more recent flooding, the Green-to-Cedar Trail at Lake Forest Estates is closed and won’t reopen until the ground is stabilized.

Last week’s heavy rain and widespread flooding damaged other county trails and parks, too, causing closures of:

• A quarter-mile long section of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, north of State Route 203, between Mount Si Golf Course and Meadowbrook Bridge. Repairs are expected to be completed within a week.

• Tolt-MacDonald Park near Carnation, which remains closed while flood damage is assessed.

“We know how much our trail system means to King County residents, and as with other flood-recovery efforts, we’re working as quickly as possible to repair flood-damaged areas so that they are safe to use,” said Tom Koney, assistant director of the Parks Department.