The next step on the road to a safer West Lake Sammamish Parkway for walkers, bikers and drivers will come at an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

The event will from 7 to 9 p.m. at the SAMBICA Conference Center, located at 4114 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E.

The 5.5-mile long roadway runs from I-90 to Bellevue’s northern boundary.

The open house is a chance for people to view progress on the project’s design, landscaping themes and retaining wall treatments, and to register their opinions.

Concerns and preferences voiced at the Dec. 9 open house will be used to refine the conceptual plan. A second open house is planned for spring 2009, where more design features will be presented, including storm water improvements, pavement restoration work and ideas on how construction work can be broken into different phases.

The latest designs reflect detailed land surveys done on the parkway, and refine the concept work completed during the 2004-2005 public involvement effort.

For more information on West Lake Sammamish Parkway, visit the project web page at http://www.bellevuewa.gov/west_lk_samm_prkwy.htm.