Part of the Cedar River Trail will be closed for about six weeks, possibly beginning next week, while it undergoes repairs of damage caused by flooding two years ago.

King County Parks officials said the project, which could start next Monday, will require the closure of a half-mile of the trail between Cedar Grove Road and Jones Road as a construction zone.

The damage to the trail occurred during torrential rain – more than 16 inches in less than 24 hours in some areas of King County – in November 2006 that caused flooding by the Cedar River. Officials said the flood water caused significant deterioration of the trail’s “toe,” or base, leaving a 200-foot stretch exposed to potentially more damage.

Officials said repairing the toe will improve the stability of the trail, which is between the Cedar River and State Route 169 in an area between Maple Valley and Renton.

County crews will use heavy equipment, making the project site off-limits to trail users, officials said.

Notices of the trail closure will be posted at either end of the project area. There will be no designated detour for trail users, according to county officials.

Money for the project comes from the county’s flood control zone district. The district oversees flood-prevention projects countywide that will cost an estimated $335 million over 10 years and are funded by a property tax assessment of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The Cedar River Trail – popular for non-motorized uses such as bicyling, jogging, walking and horseback riding – runs about 17 miles from the mouth of the Cedar River in downtown Renton to Landsburg.

At Maple Valley, the trail intersects with the Green-to-Cedar Rivers Trail, which runs through Maple Valley, then continues to the Rock Creek area and Landsburg.

The Cedar River Trail is among 175 miles of regional trails maintained by the county.