Construction of the new pedestrian and bicycle greenway trail will begin with the removal of the old trolley tracks and sidewalk on the east side of Alaskan Way, between Virginia St and Blanchard St. Blog stats: 650 words | 3-minute read
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from the Elliott Bay Connections project, which is a public-private partnership connecting, restoring, and revitalizing public parks along the Elliott Bay waterfront. The project is funded entirely by private philanthropic donations, with the Downtown Seattle Association serving as the project implementation partner. The project may be of interest to SDOT Blog readers.
The Elliott Bay Connections project has started construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle greenway trail on the east side of Alaskan Way, along the north end of Seattle’s central waterfront. This multi-use trail will provide a green, protected connection between Waterfront Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Construction of planned improvements in Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks (north of Alaskan Way) will follow in March. More details about anticipated park construction activities and schedule will be shared before this work begins. The best way to stay informed about this work is by subscribing to the project’s email update listserv. Construction is expected to be complete before Seattle hosts FIFA World Cup™ games in June and July 2026.
The new greenway trail will be lined by lush landscaped areas, including native trees, shrubs, and ground cover plantings, new directional signage to provide clear navigation for people walking, rolling, and biking, and new and improved lighting.
The multi-use trail will complement SDOT’s nearby Alaskan Way Safety Project, which is building a two-way protected bike lane on Alaskan Way between Virginia St and Broad St. To stay informed about the Alaskan Way Safety Project, sign up here to receive regular construction updates.
In October 2024, the Elliott Bay Connections team presented the final design for the Elliott Bay Connections project, highlighting how community feedback was reflected in the design and describing how to stay informed during construction. A full recording of the live online presentation is available on the project website, along with a meeting summary.
Construction of the greenway trail will take place on the east side of Alaskan Way between Virginia St and Broad St. Work will take place in ‘zones’ and will be scheduled to minimize impacts on residents, businesses, and cruise operations, as much as possible. The first construction zone is located along Alaskan Way, between Virginia St and Blanchard St. Work in this area includes the removal of the old trolley tracks and existing sidewalk, as well as the installation of underground utilities.
What to Expect During Construction
- Work will typically take place Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM, with occasional weekend and nighttime work as necessary
- Access to buildings, businesses, and driveways will be maintained at all times, with pedestrian detours in place as needed
- Alaskan Way will remain open to vehicles throughout construction, with travel typically reduced to one lane in each direction
- Temporary parking and loading zone restrictions will be in place on the east side of Alaskan Way
To stay informed about upcoming work and project progress, sign up for monthly construction update emails.
Learn More:
- To learn more about the project, visit ElliottBayConnections.org.
- To stay informed about project progress and what to expect during construction, sign up for monthly construction update emails.
- To contact the project team, email info@ElliottBayConnections.org or call the construction hotline at (206) 462-1275. The construction hotline is monitored whenever construction is taking place.