Freeland residents and visitors will soon have a new non-motorized trail to walk, rollerblade or ride their bicycles on.

A new half-mile path will run along the southwest side of State Highway 525, from Cameron Road to Fish Road, according to Public Works Engineer Bryant Mercil.

“There’s nothing really pedestrian-friendly between Fish Road and Cameron Road right now,” he said, adding that the trail will provide pedestrians greater access to some of the local businesses in the downtown Freeland core.

The project, dubbed Freeland Trail Segment 1, is a smaller component of the county’s 2006 non-motorized trail plan which details a multi-use pedestrian path stretching from Clinton to the Deception Pass Bridge.

“Eventually there will pedestrian and multi-use access all the way up the island,” Mercil said. “In some locations, horses will be allowed too.”

While a similar trail segment currently exists in the Coupeville area, Mercil said the remaining segments of the island-wide trail are currently unfunded.

The small Freeland stretch of asphalt paved trail will cost between $728,000 and $837,000, with money coming from federal aid funds and federal road funds.

The Freeland portion of the trail project is out for bid until Aug. 18 and will include various work on structural earth walls, guardrails, storm drainage and more.

At the moment, Mercil said, the project does not have a set timeline for completion.

“I maintain a high level of caution for setting that timeline right now, but we’re committed to getting it under construction,” he said.