Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed $8.6 million to fund the completion of the controversial and long awaited "Missing Link" portion of the Burke Gilman Trail over the next two years.

The last remaining segment of the popular multi-purpose trail would be paid for with 2009-2010 proposed budget funds

"Bicyclists, walkers, runners and skaters will enjoy one complete trail all the way from Puget Sound to the top of Lake Washington and beyond," the mayor said. "It is time for us to complete the 'missing link' of the Burke-Gilman Trail."

Funding for the project will come from Bridging the Gap levy funds dedicated to bike and trail improvements, the 2007 King County Proposition 2 Trail and Open Space levy, and from grants.

Under the mayor's proposal, the city would begin construction on the trail section in 2009 and complete its work by 2010.

The announcement was made at the opening of the international Pro Walk/ Pro Bike Conference currently being held in Seattle.

The funding will allow the city to construct a trail segment, commonly known as the "Missing Link," from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks.

Once completed, the trail will create a regional trail system running unobstructed through Seattle, to Issaquah via the Sammamish River Trail and the East Lake Sammamish Trail. It is the city's top-rated trail priority as identified by the Bicycle Master Plan.

This effort supports the plan's two primary goals of tripling the amount of cycling and reducing the rate of bicycle collisions by a third.

Three of the final four segments of the Burke-Gilman Trail have been completed since 2001. The city of Seattle finished the 8th Avenue Northwest to 11th Avenue Northwest segment in 2001, the Ballard Locks to Northwest 60th Street segment in 2005 and the Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens segment earlier this spring.

Bridging the Gap is the $365 million levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006. It enables work by the Seattle Department of Transportation, such as roadway paving, sidewalk development and repair, bridge maintenance and tree planting.

The levy also supports the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, enhanced transit connections and large Neighborhood Street Fund projects.