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What’s Moving in Your Neighborhood!

Seattle skyline looking northwest. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr.

UPDATED NOVEMBER 13, 2020

As needed, we’ll update this post on Fridays with construction impacts you can expect in your neighborhood as we continue our work on important projects throughout the city.

Please keep in mind that, as with most construction, expected effects may include:

Temporary driveway impacts, noise and vibration, dust and debris, construction staging and parking impacts near work sites, crosswalk and sidewalk closures, detours for people walking and biking, roadway closures, and detours for vehicle traffic. 

If you would like to receive updates via email about any project in your neighborhood, please search for the project on our website. There, you will find a link to sign up for regular email updates for this project.


In this week’s update:


NE 43rd Improvements Project

A full closure is planned for the intersection of University Way NE and NE 43rd St from Saturday, November 21st until the morning of Thursday, November 25th. As part of the NE 43rd St Improvements Project, we will be doing roadway panel base repair, repaving the intersection, and adding a new raised crosswalk. This work is weather dependent. If the schedule changes based on weather, the impacted businesses will be notified.

You can expect work to take place between 7 AM and 7 PM daily. You can also expect:

  • Full closure of University Way NE and NE 43rd St intersection (24 hours per day)
  • Local access on University Way NE to the north and south of the 43rd intersection will be maintained
  • Access to the University Bookstore parking lot will be maintained
  • Pedestrian access to businesses on NE 43rd St will be maintained with well-marked pathways
  • Temporary parking and load zone restrictions
  • Temporary detours around the work zone and staging area
  • Typical construction noise, dust, and vibrations
  • Metro bus routes #45, #73, and #373 will be rerouted. For details, visit King County Metro’s website.

15th Ave NE Paving Project 

15th Ave NE is a minor arterial serving northeast Seattle. Approximately 10,000 vehicles travel this street on an average day. This corridor connects the University District, Ravenna, and Maple Leaf neighborhoods, and is a major transit street, serving three King County Metro routes. As part of our paving program, we’ll pave approximately 1.3 miles of 15th Ave NE to make it safer and more comfortable to travel on, and to extend the useful life of the pavement. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

In the coming weeks, the following work will take place: removal of some parking restrictions; installation of sewer main, side sewer connections, and waterpipe service renewals; and temporary paving. More details about this work are below.

Typical construction hours are weekdays from 7 AM to 5 PM, with occasional weekend and night work. We will coordinate utility work with SPU and residents affected by significant utility outages will receive advance notification. 

To provide relief for the loss of parking during construction, we have removed peak-hour parking restrictions signs on both sides of 15th Ave NE between NE 55th St and Lake City WayThere are exceptions in the following areas 

  • East side of 15th Ave NE between NE 63rd St and NE 65th St 
  • West side of 15th Ave NE between NE 65th St and NE 66th St 
  • East side of 15th Ave NE between NE 73rd St and NE 75th St 
  • West side of 15th Ave NE between NE 75th St and NE 76th St  
  • East side of 15th Ave NE between NE 77th St and NE 80th St 
  • West side of 15th Ave NE between NE 80th St and Lake City Way NE 

SPU Water will be doing waterpipe service renewals on 15th Ave this Saturday, November 14 and will be working near NE 77th St.

Work will take place from 8 AM to 5 PM and requires 10- to 30-minute temporary shutoffs. SPU will provide notification to affected neighbors. Minor roadway, sidewalk, and driveway impacts should be expected

A new sewer line is being installed between NE 70th St and NE 73rd St. We will connect side sewers to specific homes within the next week or two.  

Traffic cones will direct vehicles to the shoulders of the road between NE 73rd St and the halfway point between NE 73rd St and NE 70th St. Once this part of the work is complete, we will lay a temporary road surface, which means we’ll be digging in the street and sidewalks, removing old piping, reconnecting new piping, and temporarily patching the work area. 

For more information: 

Sign up to receive updates with this link. If you have questions, email us 15thNEpaving@seattle.gov or call (206) 775-8718.  

If you need this information translated, please call (206) 775-8718. 

Servicios de traducción e interpretación disponibles bajo petición (206) 775-8718. 

Matutulungan ka naming maintindihan kung hihingi kang tulong (206) 775-8718.

요청하시면 번역이나 통역을 제공해드립니다 (206) 775-8718. 

Dịch và thông dịch viên sẵn sàng nếu có sự yêu cầu (206) 775-8718. 

Haddii aad dooneyso turjubeen fadlen wac (206) 775-8718. 


Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge 

Support structure work near Sound Transit’s Northgate Link Extension
Support structure work near Sound Transit’s Northgate Link Extension. Photo Credit: SDOT.

The Northgate neighborhood is a major residential and employment destination that continues to grow. We designed a new, accessible, all ages and abilities pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 5 (I-5) in Northgate. The Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge will improve access to communities, services, and opportunities on the east and west sides of I-5 in Northgate and Licton Springs, helping knit together a historically divided area. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

A long-term single-lane closure of the express lane off-ramp at 1st Ave NE and NE 103rd St will remain in effect for approximately 9 months.  

One lane on the express lane off-ramp will remain open during the regularly scheduled express lane daytime hours of 8 AM to 11 PM. 

The North Seattle Park and Ride (10001 1st Ave NE)will now be closed until fall 2021 for construction of the Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge project.  

We are partnering with the Washington State Department of Transportation and King County Metro during the construction of the bridge. The lot will be used to stage equipment and materials for the duration of the closure. For more details, including alternative parking areas, view the full notice here. 

For more information: 

Email us at NorthgateBridge@seattle.gov

If you need this information translated, please call (206) 905-3620. 

Si necesita traducir esta información al español, llame al (206) 905-3620. 

如果您需要此信息翻譯成中文 請致電 (206) 905-3620. 


Safe Routes to School Work on 21st Ave and 18th Ave SW 

Adolescent holding a "STOP" flag at a school at an intersection.
Safe crossing in Seattle. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr.

Safe Routes to School is a national movement to make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school. We’re making several improvements across Seattle to calm traffic, increase visibility, and reduce the crossing distance at intersections. 

  • This fall, we will make improvements on the east side of 18th Ave SW to connect SW Myrtle St to the Sanislo Elementary playground entrance. This project will include a new sidewalk and planting strip, curb ramps, speed humps, a crosswalk, and updated signage. Through these improvements, we’re working to improve walkability and help kids get to Sanislo Elementary safely. 
  • Beginning as soon as the week of November 16, we will also be upgrading the intersections at 21st Ave and E Cherry St, and 21st Ave and E Jefferson St. This project will include extended sidewalk corners, curb ramp upgrades, new painted crosswalks, in-street pedestrian signage, a repainted and restriped roadway, bicycle safety improvements, and drainage improvements. Through this project, we’re working to make these intersections safer and more comfortable for everyone. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

For both projects, during construction, you can expect noise, dust, vibration, and large equipment. Traffic lanes and sidewalks may be reduced or detoured where necessary. Driveways may be temporarily blocked. Businesses and residents will be notified of any driveway closures at least 48 hours in advance. A member of our Real Property Team will be contacting you if we need you to sign a Temporary Construction Easement (TCE) to complete work near your property.  

For more information:  

Subscribe to our email list to receive updates. 

Levy to Move Seattle Logo. Text reads: "This project is funded in part or in full by the Levy to Move Seattle.  Learn more at www.seattle.gov/LevytoMoveSeattle. The logo also contains the text "The Levy to Move Seattle Your tax dollars at work" and logos left to right of a streetcar, truck, bus, car, bike, and person walking.

The 15th Ave Paving Project and Safe Routes to School projects above are funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle. Approved by voters in November 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city.