The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin Monday, January 3, reconstructing 15th Avenue NE in the University District. SDOT’s contractor will rebuild the street between NE Pacific Street and NE 50th Street with concrete pavement and resurface the stretch between NE 50th Street and NE 55th Street with asphalt. The project will include safety improvements as well as pedestrian and transit improvements and is scheduled for completion by October.
SDOT’s contractor will start work on 15th Avenue NE between NE Pacific Street and NE 45th Street leaving one lane of traffic open in each direction on weekdays. On weekends, the roadway will be reduced to one lane either northbound or southbound only. The contractor expects to complete work on this part of 15th Avenue NE by early June.
Drivers should expect delays on 15th Avenue NE. No parking or loading will be allowed on the roadway and bus stops will be consolidated during construction. The heaviest construction activities will occur on the weekends, when crews will be working around the clock to complete work safely while Metro’s electric trolley lines are deactivated.
The improvements, in addition to new pavement, will include:
• New curb ramps and curb bulbs to improve pedestrian mobility
• Sidewalk widening at bus zones (bus bulbs)
• Drainage upgrades
• Installation of a new marked crosswalk at NE 41st Street
• New northbound left turn lane at NE 42nd Street
• Upgraded street lighting system
• New electrical infrastructure for future transit improvements
• Transit improvements including
o North to west turn restriction from 15th Avenue NE to NE 45th Street during some or all of the day
o Expanded bus stop waiting areas (bus bulbs) at two locations
o Bus stop consolidation where stops are too close together
For more information:
Visit the project website at www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_15thavene.htm.
To sign up for construction e-mail updates for the project, send an e-mail to 15thAveNE@seattle.gov.
Media contact: Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548
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