The most recent appeal by a group calling itself the Ballard Business Appellants in the ongoing saga of the Burke-Gilman Trail's Missing Link was denied by the Washington State Appellate Court last week, for the moment clearing the way for completion of the trail.

The appeal was filed in July and based on a July King County Superior Court ruling in favor of the Seattle Department of Transportation on eight of nine issues regarding the city's existing environmental assessment of the Missing Link.

The Missing Link is the uncompleted section of the Burke-Gilman Trail, primarily along Shilshole Avenue Northwest, from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Ballard Locks.

The additional environmental analysis required by the single issue on which the King County Superior Court ruled in favor of the Ballard Business Appellants is currently underway, said Richard Sheridan, Department of Transportation spokesperson.

Sheridan said the department anticipates completing the additional environmental work on the portion of Shilshole Avenue between 17th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Vernon Place by the end of the year.

Once that work is complete and failing additional lawsuits, the city would be free to fill in the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail.

The Ballard Business Appellants are: 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.