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On The Move

Advisories from the Seattle Department of Transportation

Update: University of Washington Station Construction; Burke-Gilman Trail detour through August 2015

by

Sound Transit

The Montlake Triangle Project (MTP), a University of Washington (UW) construction project managed by the UW Capital Projects Office (CPO), is underway. The MTP is a multi-agency effort consisting of three subprojects centered around the intersection of Pacific Street and Montlake Boulevard. The project scope includes lowering NE Pacific Place and constructing a land bridge connecting the Montlake Triangle and the lower Rainier Vista. The bridge will create a seamless experience for all non-motorized modes. People traveling from the north and south can access the Triangle via a combination of existing crosswalks and a new bridge being constructed by Sound Transit. The bridge will span across Montlake Boulevard between the University Link Light Rail station and Rainier Vista.

In order to accomplish the next phase of work, the Burke-Gilman Trail will need to be rerouted via a detour. The MTP detour will take users around the lower Rainier Vista using the existing trail, which will be enhanced with a new paved surface to accommodate all modes and user capacity. The Burke-Gilman Trail is expected to be closed and the MTP detour opened the first week of February 2014. Construction is scheduled to be complete by August 2015 and the Burke-Gilman Trail reopened to users.

Once the Burke-Gilman Trail is detoured, eastbound vehicle traffic on NE Pacific Place will be rerouted to the existing bridge currently used by the Trail. Southbound Montlake vehicle traffic going west will continue past the southern tip of the Triangle and turn right onto NE Pacific Street.

The MTP is part of the overall Campus Master Plan to transform and activate the Rainier Vista and Montlake Triangle area as a more vibrant public space and connect people to transportation options. Project funding agencies include the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Sound Transit and the University of Washington. The City of Seattle is also providing project support services and pedestrian improvements along Pacific Street.

The three subprojects are:

  • Montlake Pedestrian Bridge–Subproject 1 (SP1) – This project will provide pedestrian and bicycle connections between the future light rail station at Husky Stadium and the Montlake Triangle. Sound Transit is managing design and construction of this $11.4 million project and it is nearly complete.
  • Rainier Vista Land Bridge–Subproject 2 (SP2) – This bridge will span Pacific Place and connect the Montlake Triangle to Rainier Vista. The UW is managing design and construction of this $20.8 million project.
  • Rainier Vista Land Bridge Site Improvements–Subproject 3 (SP3) – This project will provide landscaping, hard surfacing, lighting, and other site improvements from Stevens Way through the Montlake Triangle. The UW is managing design and construction of this $4.5 million project.

Construction work is scheduled to complete summer 2015. Some additional modifications to the detour routes may be implemented as work progresses. For questions or comments please send them to Andy Casillas, Casillas@UW.edu