Seattle Department of Transportation’s Roadway Structures crew will construct a new staircase near the southeastern city limits at 72nd Avenue South between Rainier Avenue South and South Taft Street. On Monday, March 12 the crew will begin preparing for construction by surveying and setting up erosion control measures; at this time stairway will remain open.   The stairway will be completely closed starting Monday, March 19 and the crew expects to complete the work early in May.

The original stairway was built in 1910 and does not meet current standards. The new staircase will be wider with hand rails on both sides, and will sport a new bike runnel making it easy to roll a bike up and down the stairs. This project is part of SDOT’s program to upgrade the 507 stairways that SDOT owns and is responsible for maintaining. The funding is provided by the Bridging the Gap transportation initiative approved by Seattle voters.

Starting March 19th, the staircase and path will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until completion of the project early in May. There will be a detour in place and a map posted at the top and bottom of the stairway. Crews will demolish part or all of old staircase and install form work for the staircase and walkway that will be poured with concrete.

For further information, please contact the Roadway Structures Manager at (206) 684-8325.

For questions or comments on bike or pedestrian issues (bike runnels), please contact SDOT’s Bike and Walk information line, (206) 684-7583, or send e-mail to walkandbike@seattle.gov.

 Media contact:  Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548