Route 40 Project to Maintain and Modernize Streets, Starting Construction in Fremont and Westlake this February

by Ethan Bancroft on January 7, 2025

People board a Route 40 bus. Photo: SDOT

Blog stats: 1,300 words | 7-minute read

At-a-glance:

The Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project will maintain and modernize streets, replace aging utilities, and improve transportation infrastructure in some of Seattle’s most vibrant neighborhoods and business districts.
Construction is set to ramp up in the Fremont and Westlake neighborhoods in February and continue throughout 2025.
Major work includes replacing a 100-year-old water main under Fremont Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St (near the Fremont Bridge), replacing old street pavement, and upgrading sidewalks, crossings, bus loading areas, curb ramps, drainage, and more.
Route 40 is the fifth-highest ridership route in King County Metro’s bus network, with over 8,500 average daily weekday riders.
We’re hosting an online open house on January 7 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM. You can find the meeting details on our website.
Please sign up for our project email updates to stay informed (Route 40 updates are listed under the ‘Transit and Freight’ topic).

Project purpose and benefits

This project will maintain and modernize critical infrastructure including streets, sidewalks, utilities, and more. As part of SDOT’s ongoing efforts to improve public transit, advance transportation safety, and support local business activity, the project includes upgrades to sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, stormwater drainage, protected bike lanes, and street paving. Many sections of the street pavement are currently in poor condition, and new concrete will last for decades to come while reducing the need for frequent maintenance.

The redesigned street will also modernize our infrastructure to include new bike and scooter lanes just north of the bridge on Fremont Ave N (between N 34th and N 36th streets) to provide safer travel options in one of the city’s busiest bicycle routes. We will also add curb extensions for easier bus boarding for riders, which supports faster and more reliable transit service.

Together, these changes will help Fremont’s vibrant business district and residential communities continue to thrive, while making it easier for people to get to and through the area safely and efficiently. Fremont and Westlake are important links in Seattle’s transportation network for people who walk, bike, roll, take the bus, or drive, and for trucks that deliver goods to nearby homes and businesses.

This project is expected to provide an overall 5-10% transit travel time savings, including a 14-17% improvement from Ballard to Downtown. The project will also improve the street and build a mix of transportation infrastructure upgrades to make it safer and easier for you to get around.

Infographic describing Route 40 project improvements, including 6,000+ feet of upgraded sidewalks, 200 feet of new water mains, 47 upgraded ADA-accessible curb ramps, 8 upgraded bus stop zones, 3 miles of Business Access and Transit only lanes or Freight and Bus only lanes, and 3 new or upgraded crosswalks.

Sidewalk in Fremont that is elevated and in poor condition. — N 35th and Fremont Ave N

Street pavement in Fremont that is in poor condition. — N 35th and Fremont Ave N

Upcoming construction work in Fremont and Westlake

Throughout 2025, construction crews will be staging equipment, conducting trenching and demolition in the street, and building upgraded streets, sidewalks, curb ramps, crossings, utilities, and bus zones in select areas of Fremont and along Westlake Ave.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will replace a 100-year-old water main under Fremont Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St. SDOT and SPU are working together to minimize traffic impacts by completing needed street and utility infrastructure upgrades at the same time, reducing the need for more street closures in the future.

Prep work in Fremont is scheduled to begin in January, with full construction starting as soon as early-February 2025.

In the Westlake neighborhood, crews will start preparing for construction on Westlake Ave near Halladay St in early 2025, in the area where a new bus zone and pedestrian crossing will be installed.

A map of the project area in Fremont and Westlake. Icons show where new curb ramps, signalized crosswalks, and other project elements are located. — *Map of the Route 40 project work areas in Fremont and along Westlake Ave. Graphic: SDOT*

What to expect during construction

Crews will start by locating underground utilities, staging construction equipment, and beginning demolition. Typical construction impacts may include:

Noise, dust, and heavy vehicle traffic
Temporary parking restrictions and short-term driveway closures
Nighttime and weekend work to minimize traffic disruption
Traffic detours, lane shifts, and occasional full intersection closures
Pedestrian and bicycle detours, along with temporary bus detours and stop relocations
Temporary utility service impacts and flaggers directing traffic as needed

To learn more about what to expect during construction, please visit the project webpage which provides detailed information on construction activities and construction locations in Fremont and along Westlake Ave.

Several construction workers in and around a large trench working on a water main. A large excavator is in the middle of the image. Trees and buildings are in the background. — *Example of a previous water main replacement on Capitol Hill as part of the RapidRide G Line – Madison St project. Photo: SDOT*

Join our online open house on January 7 at 6:30 PM to learn more

The project team is hosting an online open house on Tuesday, January 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Visit the project webpage to get the link to the open house. The team will go over project updates, anticipated construction impacts, and have time for Q&A.

Ways to travel

While construction is happening, consider the options listed below to get around. You can also shop local – Fremont businesses are open during construction.

Here are a few travel options:

Bus: Since we anticipate there will be bus detours and bus stop relocations, please visit King County Metro’s service advisories and sign up for transit alerts. You can also visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip.
Bicycle: We anticipate that the Fremont Bridge shared-use path, Burke-Gilman Trail, and Westlake protected bike path will remain open during construction, allowing for a quick way to bypass congestion. Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seattle By Bike guidebook. Please use caution when biking around the construction zone and watch out for detour signs.
Bike and scooter share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page.
Walking and rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination.
Flip your trip: Visit FlipYourTrip.org to learn about different ways to get around.
Rideshare: If you need to drive, consider carpooling. Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.

Project schedule

Construction of the Route 40 project started in June 2024 and work is scheduled to continue through the end of 2025. The construction timeline is subject to change, and we encourage you to subscribe to our email updates to stay informed throughout construction. You can also visit our project online open house website to learn more about the project design and construction and ask questions.

Transit ridership

Route 40 is the fifth-highest ridership route in the King County Metro bus network. Over 8,500 average weekday daily boardings (as of fall 2024). That’s an 11% increase from fall 2023. Since the pandemic, ridership on this route has grown every year.

Recap of work completed last summer

Our construction team has been working hard since June 2024 making infrastructure improvements in Ballard. Over the summer and fall of 2024, we installed new or upgraded sidewalks, crossings, stormwater drainage, bus zones, and street panel repairs in select areas.

Construction near a sidewalk in a busy commercial area. A bus is in the background and people are walking on the sidewalk. — During Construction

People walk along a wide sidewalk with buildings and trees and parked cars in the background. — During Construction

Construction markers in a street, where workers are standing and large buildings are in the background. — During Construction

A newly paved street with a crosswalk, and large buildings in the background. Several people are crossing the street. — During Construction

A construction worker walks near large orange and white barriers, with large buildings and trees in the background. — During Construction

A crosswalk with newly paved streets, and large buildings in the background. — During Construction

Construction equipment and cones in the middle of a street, with large buildings and trees in the background. — During Construction

A wide sidewalk with large buildings and trees in the background. — During Construction

Stay informed

Thank you for your time and interest as we work to deliver this important project. We will continue to share regular updates about the project as work continues.

Read more about the history of this project on our blog and the project web page.
Watch the project update video.
Sign up for Route 40 project email updates for construction updates.

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