LYNN — Residents will be able to access a long-awaited community bike path by the end of the year.
Construction on the Lynn portion of the Northern Strand Community Trail — a $15 million state-funded project that will eventually connect the communities of Everett, Malden, Revere, and Saugus, and wind through Lynn to Nahant Beach — is expected to be completed by December.
“Most of the community path in Lynn is going to be open to the public at the end of the construction season,” said City Planner Aaron Clausen. “This is the first part that will provide a great amenity in the near term, but the idea is it will eventually connect all the way to the beach.”
The Lynn portion of the trail is being constructed along a portion of an abandoned railroad line that will continue as a separated bike lane, starting at Market Square and running along North Common Street into the downtown.
The community path of Lynn, which continues along the remaining abandoned railroad line and is the portion of the trail that connects to Nahant Beach, is also being upgraded.
Clausen said the path will end near Market Basket on Spencer Street, but plans are to eventually connect it to South Common Street, which will take it down to the beach.
While the paved path will be accessible to walkers, runners and bicyclists by the end of the year, Clausen said one of the signature features of Lynn’s part of the trail, a 1,000-foot linear park that will extend from Spencer to Cottage street, will not be completed until next year.
The community park space will include play structures and other amenities that will provide a chance for people to step off the path and relax, Clausen said. Work on the Saugus connection of the path, another step toward providing the regional connection envisioned for the project, will also continue next spring, he said.
“The Saugus portion will continue into the next season, but eventually people will be able to ride their bikes and walk if they want to all the way down to Everett,” said Clausen.
A vision of Bike to the Sea since 1993, the nearly 12-mile trail will offer a continuous path and connect to the beaches in Revere, Lynn and Nahant when complete.
Project partners include the city of Lynn, the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, MAPC and the Community Path of Lynn.
“I think it’s going to be an amazing amenity to the community. It’s going to provide a great place for people to recreate, walk and bike in a safe environment,” said Clausen.
