The Seattle Department of Transportation will begin a street construction project In Post Alley this Wednesday, March 21.  The southbound lane and the west sidewalk on Post Avenue, between Columbia Street and Yesler Way, will be closed for approximately three months, until the project is completed.

During construction, pedestrians will be detoured to the east side of the street and parking will be temporarily removed.  The contractor will maintain access to all residences and businesses.

The construction crews will be working in an areaway under the sidewalk. At this location, as in other older parts of Seattle, a new street was built at a higher level over the original street, leaving a space between the two levels of sidewalks called an “areaway.”  The aging structure supporting the top sidewalk at this location needs to be reinforced to better withstand the force of a major earthquake. In this case, the crews will reinforce an old street wall and replace a section of the sidewalk.

This project is being funded by a grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

For more information: Jeff Bertram, (206) 684-5194, jeff.bertram@seattle.gov  

Media contact:  Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548, marybeth.turner@seattle.gov