Construction on the extension of the Burke Gilman Trail from Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens Park hit another snag recently when the Seattle Department of Transportation realized it didn't have a necessary storm water permit.

The $2.1 million project had previously been delayed by two months, from June 1 to the end of July, due to a longer than expected technical review by the Federal Highway Administration.

It's expected to take about three weeks to obtain the permit from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, but the project should remain on schedule, said LeAnne Nelson, communications manager for the city's transportation department capital projects.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit is required for construction activities that disturb five or more acres of land to regulate the amount of pollutants discharged into waters. The Burke Gilman project will move 3.6 acres of soil, said Nelson.

Fortunately, she said, extra time was built into the project and the technicality is not expected to change the completion date or the project design, weather permitting. Completion is scheduled for the end of the year.

But the start delay could push that back to early 2008, said Gregg Hirakawa, a spokesman for the transportation department. From this point on, the schedule will largely be "whether dependent," he said.

"We're shooting for the end of 2007," he said, "I wouldn't put money on it, though."

Crews have started the first step of clearing, grubbing and grading. Construction is scheduled to start again by Sept. 1, along with work to install drainage improvements and build retaining walls.

"Now we are just crossing our t's and dotting out i's to make sure we move forward..." Nelson said.

The new segment of the trail will be a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path from Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens Park. It will run along the east side of the Ballard Terminal Railroad tracks between Northwest 60th and about Northwest 67th streets.

Heading west crossing the tracks and hillside down to Seaview Avenue Northwest, it will continue north to the new portion of the trail crossing at the entrance to Golden Gardens Park. A pedestrian signal is planned for the intersection of Northwest 60th Street and Seaview Avenue Northwest.

Construction also includes improvements to drainage, landscaping and lighting.

Rebekah Schilperoort may be contacted at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com