$1.6 MILLION PROJECT WORK STARTS ON NEW BIKE PATH.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - Construction has started on a more than $1.6 million bicycle path that will add trees and shrubbery to the dirt right of way beside the Metrolink railroad tracks along Sierra Highway.

The landscaped bikeway will run three miles from Avenue J to Avenue M, where a Palmdale bicycle path stops at the city limits.

``It provides a nice link from Palmdale's bikeway,'' said Mark Bozigian, assistant to the city manager.

State funds provided as a grant from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority will provide $1.3 million of the bikeway cost. The city is kicking in an additional $340,000.

Trees, shrubbery, lights and bus stop-style shelters will be added along the approximately 8-foot-wide asphalt path, which will be on city and Metrolink rights of way beside the highway.

The bikeway is expected to be finished in December, said Neil Hudson, Lancaster's acting public works director.

The first work under way is a half-mile-long concrete barrier that will keep cars away from bicyclists negotiating the Avenue L overpass.

The barrier is being installed in that section because there is not enough room to install the path the minimum distance from traffic required by Caltrans, officials said.

The barrier is going in on what is now a third northbound lane under the overpass. The highway has only two northbound lanes on either side of the overpass.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Workers build a safety wall along Sierra Highway south of Avenue L to separate bike riders from motor vehicles.

(2 -- color) The bike lane safety wall will take up a third roadway lane, but city officials say it should not result in more traffic congestion.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer