The Bainbridge Island City Council last week approved a construction contract for a project that will widen shoulders and create a separated bike lane along Eagle Harbor Drive between McDonald Avenue and the shoreline segment of the roadway.

The almost mile-long project, known as the Eagle Harbor Phase II Shoulder Improvements project, has been on the city’s non-motorized project list for two decades.

The southbound non-motorized lane will be separated from traffic by a landscape strip between the travel lane and the new paved shoulder. The northbound lane will not be separated from traffic, as it will be adjacent to the new paved shoulder.

The contract was awarded to Seton Construction, Inc. for $512,254 – about 30% below the city’s estimate for the work. The project is funded with a federal grant, which will cover most of the costs.

The council asked staff to investigate some refinements to the project design, including potential physical separation of the bicycle and vehicle lanes along the southernmost curve of the project alignment (just northeast of McDonald Avenue); expanding the shoulder facility on the northbound side from 5 feet to 6 feet; and building out a gravel shoulder walking path on the outside edge of the northbound and southbound segments of the project.

Construction is expected to begin this spring or early summer.

Phase I will continue the improvements north from the northern point of Phase II to the turn at the Head of the Bay. Phase I, which will be challenging because of proximity to shoreline and wetland areas, the city says, is scheduled for 2024. That phase of the project will seek $735,000 in federal funding. Staff will present design options to the council April 20.