Construction on the missing link of the Burke-Gilman Trail can begin after an appeal by neighborhood business and industrial groups failed.

On June 9, Sue Tanner, hearing examiner for the City of Seattle, upheld the Seattle Department of Transportation's determination of non-significance on the environmental impacts of completing the trail.

The appeal was filed against the department's determination Dec. 17 by Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, Ballard Oil, The Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center, the North Seattle Industrial Coalition and the Seattle Marine Business Coalition.

In January, the Cascade Bicycle Club was granted a motion to intervene in the appeal.

The city is now free to complete the final portion – often referred to as the missing link – of the Burke Gilman-Trail. The missing link runs from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Ballard Locks, and plans call for the trail to have sections on both Shilshole Avenue and Ballard Avenue.

The city is pleased with the hearing results and eager to move forward with the project, said Richard Sheridan, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation. He said the city will continue to work with property owners near the trail to address their concerns.

Eugene Wasserman, from the North Seattle Industrial Association, said the association is not happy with the ruling. He said it was obvious the hearing examiner, a city employee, sided with the city, and the association is looking at appealing the ruling to a superior court.

In a press release, the Cascade Bicycle Club said the hearing examiner's ruling "is an indication of the progress the city is making toward improving Seattle's bicycle network."

The city should be able to have a bid opening for the project by the end of August, Sheridan said.