We celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Pioneer Square East-West Improvements Project today in Pioneer Square with Mayor Harell, Deputy Mayor Emery, Councilmember Saka, our partners at the Alliance for Pioneer Square, Trevor Boone with Emerald City Guitars and other community members. Thank you to all of the neighbors and friends who joined us for this joyous occasion!
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Editor’s Note: This is a blog post from the Waterfront Seattle Program. The Waterfront Seattle Program is a collaboration between the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and other Seattle departments including the Mayor’s Office, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Planning and Community Development, and Parks and Recreation.
The City of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects has completed major construction on the Pioneer Square East-West Pedestrian Improvements project as part of the City’s Waterfront Seattle Program. Based on priorities voiced by the Pioneer Square community, the project has improved connections for people walking and rolling in the heart of the Pioneer Square neighborhood for more accessible and enjoyable travel between downtown Seattle and the new Waterfront Park. Completion of these improvements marks another important milestone ahead of the highly anticipated opening celebration of the full 20-acre Waterfront Park in Spring 2025!
“Waterfront Park is already becoming a must-see Seattle destination and with our recent improvements in the heart of Pioneer Square, visitors and residents of all abilities can experience improved connections to this vibrant historic neighborhood to enjoy all it has to offer, including the incredible local businesses, Occidental Park, and the Pioneer Square Habitat Beach, just to name a few,” said Angela Brady, Director of the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects. “This accomplishment brings us another big step closer to completing the City’s Waterfront Seattle Program improvements that are helping to knit downtown neighborhoods back together with our stunning new waterfront.”
Construction began in January 2024 and was completed in phases to help minimize impacts to neighbors and businesses. In total, Waterfront Seattle’s improvements in Pioneer Square include nine new raised pedestrian crossings, four new blocks of curbless streets, and 13,400 square feet of new planted areas. The City partnered with the Alliance for Pioneer Square, which has deep ties in the community, during the design and construction phases of the project.
“The completion of this new pedestrian connection marks a pivotal moment for Pioneer Square and our city’s Waterfront,” said Lisa Howard, Executive Director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square. “Years in the making, this project not only enhances access between our historic neighborhood and the water but also represents a significant step in our work to ensure a welcoming and dynamic public realm. By incorporating historical elements into the design, we honor the rich heritage of our area while embracing the forward-looking vision for downtown Seattle. The waterfront is more than just a destination – it’s a symbol of our city’s identity, and this connection is an invitation for everyone to explore, experience, and celebrate these iconic parts of our community.”
Improved pedestrian connections
S Main and S Washington streets were reconfigured to be one lane and one way in each direction between Alaskan Way S and 2nd Ave S providing additional space for pedestrians and greenery. The landscaped planting buffers create a peaceful distinction between the roadway and widened sidewalks. These changes also moved vehicles away from vulnerable underground areaways that line many of the streets in Pioneer Square to protect their stability. Shorter crossings and the addition of raised crossings were added to slow vehicle traffic and prioritize people walking and rolling through the neighborhood.
Improvements on Yesler Way and S King St also focused on improvements for pedestrian accessibility, including upgraded pedestrian crossings, new curb ramps, and planted areas.
The before and after photos below show what transformative changes can happen in just one year!
Before and after photos on S Washington St, S Main St, and Yesler Way in Pioneer Square.
Although major construction has wrapped up, you may see crews out on occasion in the next few weeks to finish installing bollards, landscaping, and lighting. Streets will remain open to vehicle traffic for the remainder of the work, which is expected to be completed by January 2025. All these changes support a more pleasant and vibrant pedestrian experience in this historic neighborhood.
Chapters of Pioneer Square’s history were woven into the design
Additional improvements include storytelling elements that encourage visitors to reflect on the City’s history.
Illustrated interpretive panels that reflect and honor Indigenous histories and describe traditional Indigenous practices, and ground-level etchings depicting native plants and their usage will be installed in 2025. These stories were informed by collaboration with, and feedback from, members of local tribes.
There are also unique design elements such as “Shoreline Alley” pavement markings that identify the original location of the historic Elliott Bay shoreline from the mid-to-late 19th century. Contrasting patterns of light and dark brick pavers line the Firehouse Alley crossings on S Main and S Washington streets as well as the alley crossing on S Washington St between 1st and Occidental avenues S. The visual markings of the old shoreline help pedestrians explore the unique geologic history of the area. You can view a timelapse of the installation on Waterfront Seattle’s YouTube channel.
The project also added eight new wood decks for people to gather, dozens of boulders, and more than 100 wood piers of salvaged red cedar to S Main St and S Washington St to mimic the historic waterfront that existed in the late 19th century. The wood decks would have been on top of the wood piers at the time and the wood piers have a distinctive Shou Sugi Ban style charring, representing the great Seattle Fire of 1889.
Connections to nearby features
The upgraded streets in Pioneer Square allow for more convenient access to the new 20-acre Waterfront Park, the Pioneer Square Habitat Beach and the Historic Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola.
The Pioneer Square Habitat Beach was opened in the summer of 2023 and offers a quiet respite from the bustle of the city. The beach is home to more than 1,400 native plants, and seating in the form of boulders and logs, and provides stunning views of Puget Sound. The beach was designed with a special focus on encouraging and supporting juvenile salmon migration.
See Waterfront Seattle’s SDOT Blog post on Habitat Beach to learn more. The landmark Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola has been a part of Seattle’s waterfront since the early 20th century, and with its restoration, it once again serves as a symbolic gateway to the city from the Puget Sound.
Want to learn more?
- Contact the Waterfront Seattle team at: info@waterfrontseattle.org or call or text at (206) 499-8040
- Visit the project webpage
- Sign up to receive Waterfront Seattle’s weekly construction email to stay up to date on the project and what to expect during construction.
- Learn more about our community partner, Alliance for Pioneer Square