PLEASE NOTE: Starting January 14, 2019, we will retire the On the Move blog channel and all traffic advisory blogs will be posted on the SDOT blog channel.
Visit our SDOT blog for traffic advisories.
by Jeanne Clark
The Green Lake and Wallingford Paving & Multi-Modal Improvements project has been out talking to the community about changes coming to Green Lake and Wallingford. Design is nearly complete, and we’ve made changes based on the design feedback we heard from the community earlier this year.
Map of Green Lake and Wallingford paving area; new/upgraded bike facilities and connections with existing bike facilities; and on-street parking removal.
In July, more than 670 people joined us at drop-in sessions and many visited our online open house, to learn about streetscape improvements and give feedback.
In review of design and construction planning, we heard support for our general safety and mobility goals, and some suggestions for changes. We’ve summarized everything we heard and our response to the feedback; for details, read our Feedback and Action Plan: What We Heard and What We’re Doing document!
Improving safety for people walking on N 40th St | We’re adding rapid flashing beacons and repairing some stretches of sidewalk on 40th.
Reviewing east-west bike connections in Wallingford | We’re taking a step back to reconsider the design for bike improvements on N 40th St. In the coming months, we’ll evaluate other potential improvements to east-west bike connections in Wallingford.
Evaluating options for people walking and biking through the N 50th St, Stone Way N, and E Green Lake Way N intersection | We’re looking at ways to make improvements at this intersection by clearly marking crossings and improving visibility and sightlines.
Partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to explore an alternative to the planned bike improvements on Green Lake Way N | Our original design included a new signal on Green Lake Way N at N 52nd St. We’re now partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to explore transforming a portion of the planting strip bordering the Lower Woodland Parks Playfield parking lot into a 1-way protected bike lane.
Making the NE Ravenna Blvd, NE 71st St and E Green Lake Way N intersection more predictable | We’re squaring up this intersection as much as possible by adding curb bulbs and widening the west side sidewalk. We’re also adding a rapid flashing beacon one block south of the intersection.
Improving safety and visibility at intersections | We’re adding “no parking” signs 20 feet from all intersections in the project area; on the north side of N 80th St on either side of the Ashworth Ave N intersection, we’ll add paint and post curb bulbs to improve visibility.
Reducing speed limits to improve traffic safety for all | We’ll post a 25 MPH speed limit around the east side of Green Lake, which is a reduction from the current 30 MPH speed limit.
Visit the project web site for details!
We’ll continue to engage you this fall and next year as we prepare for construction. This includes opportunities for public comment in early 2019 regarding bike improvements on N 40th St.
We anticipate completing the design by the end of 2018, beginning construction in late spring of 2019, and completing the project in 2020. For more information, please visit our project webpage.
Phase I of the South Lake Union Streetcar Improvements go live November 2018! Signs have been installed and parking restrictions are set to change on November 5, 2018.
The South Lake Union line connects the fast-growing South Lake Union neighborhood to Seattle’s vibrant downtown core. We are planning to install a set of improvements to reduce travel delays and improve travel time for the streetcar.
Changes Planned Starting November 2018 | Phase 1
Contact Jonathan Dong at Jonathan.Dong@Seattle.gov or 206.233.8564.
This week started off with the Sounders whooping the Dynamos, 4 to 1. Beginning Thursday, Aurora Borealis comes to town; the Huskies host Colorado; the UW Dawgs dash; a Snails Shell Tour is scheduled; and….the Alaskan Way traffic switch is planned!
Image by MOHAI | borealisfestivaloflight.com/
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
Featured image courtesy of CenturyLink Field | Snails – Shell Tour 2
Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk: Walk from Seattle Center to Downtown and back in this fundraiser to help fight heart disease and stroke! Walk begins at 2nd Ave N and Mercer St; to E on Mercer; S on 5th ; W on Cedar; S on 4th; a U-Turn at University; N on 4th; W on Denny; N on 2nd; to the Seattle Center campus. RapidRide C Line to be rerouted. Event Hours: 9 AM – 11 AM; 6,000 attendees expected.
SODO Flea: Monthly flea market on Utah Ave S between S Stacy and Holgate streets. Event Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM; 1,000 attendees expected.
Women Build Nations Banner Parade: This march from the Washington State Convention Center (7th Ave and Pike St), with Seattle Police escort, travels along 7th Ave, to Pine St, to Westlake Park. Event Hours: 1:15 PM – up to 3:30 PM. 1,000 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
Snails – Shell Tour 2.0 Tour concert at WaMu Theater: Event Hours: 7 PM – 11:59 PM. 7,000 attendees expected.
Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash | www.washington.edu/alumni/dawgdash/
University of Washington Dawg Dash: Run in support of student scholarships! Route uses UW campus roadways, and roads/trails north and south 10K begins at 9 AM; 5K at 9:20 AM; 4,700 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
October 28: Westlake Ave N SB lanes closed at Mercer St and SLU Streetcar will not operate. Seattle Public Utilities is installing a water service connection for the 201 Westlake Ave N development (future 7-story Citizen M hotel). Vehicles will be detoured to Dexter and Fairview.
Image from WSDOT Video | One Smart Tunnel
January of 2019 will be a significant traffic transition month, culminating with the opening of the new SR 99 tunnel. To prepare for what’s coming, plan now for options to deal with the necessary 3-week SR 99 closure.
Know before you go. Use the map controls to see real-time traffic, travel times, camera footage, if a bridge is up or down, and if a railroad crossing is open or closed – select by neighborhood if you choose.
Follow us for breaking news, real-time traffic, project updates, events, surveys, policy, advisories, blogs, & more.
Sign up for ALERT SEATTLE, WSDOT, and Metro Alerts. AlertSeattle is the official emergency notification system used by the City of Seattle to communicate with city residents during emergencies. Sign up now to receive free alerts from the City via text message, email, voice message or social media.
King County’s Get Ready website
There’s no way around it—getting around Seattle is going to be tricky during the SR 99 closure. Expect traffic delays and be prepared for full buses during peak travel times. Check out the travel options below that can help you get around in anticipation of the new SR 99 tunnel opening.
Commute Seattle’s Employer Resources
For over 10 years, Commute Seattle has helped Seattle businesses of all sizes unlock their potential and empower employees to utilize convenient, affordable, and sustainable transportation options.
This Saturday and Sunday crews will remove the top two inches of 10th Ave E, between E Roy St and E Aloha St, and then repave it.
Our team will pave from the south leg of E Roy S to just north of E Aloha St.
September 29 & 30 | 7 AM – 5 PM
Closures | During working hours
Other Impacts |
Know before you go. Use the map controls to see real-time traffic, travel times, camera footage, if a bridge is up or down, and if a railroad crossing is open or closed – select by neighborhood if you choose.
Follow us for breaking news, real-time traffic, project updates, events, surveys, policy, advisories, blogs, & more.
Sign up for ALERT SEATTLE, WSDOT, and Metro Alerts. AlertSeattle is the official emergency notification system used by the City of Seattle to communicate with city residents during emergencies. Sign up now to receive free alerts from the City via text message, email, voice message or social media.
King County’s Get Ready website
There’s no way around it—getting around Seattle is going to be tricky during the SR 99 closure. Expect traffic delays and be prepared for full buses during peak travel times. Check out the travel options below that can help you get around in anticipation of the new SR 99 tunnel opening.
Commute Seattle’s Employer Resources
For over 10 years, Commute Seattle has helped Seattle businesses of all sizes unlock their potential and empower employees to utilize convenient, affordable, and sustainable transportation options.
This weekend, weather permitting, SDOT crews will be repaving the block of Republican St between Eastlake Ave E and Yale Ave N.
It’s in the same area as this last Saturday/Sunday paving of 1-block of Mercer. See the before and after photos, for what a weekend can do!
So why these 1-block paving efforts?
Well, if a picture paints a thousand words,
an aerial photo of Republican, Yale to Eastlake,
is upwards of 10K…
We’ll be removing the top two inches of the street surface along the block and smoothing it out with new asphalt.
September 22 & 23 | 7 AM – 5 PM daily
Closures | During working hours:
Restrictions | Local access only; drivers may wait up to 15 minutes for equipment to clear:
If you have questions about this work, email us at construction.coordination@seattle.gov or call 206-684-ROAD (7623). Information subject to change.
Know before you go. Use the map controls to see real-time traffic, travel times, camera footage, if a bridge is up or down, and if a railroad crossing is open or closed – select by neighborhood if you choose.
Follow us for breaking news, real-time traffic, project updates, events, surveys, policy, advisories, blogs, & more.
Sign up for ALERT SEATTLE, WSDOT, and Metro Alerts. AlertSeattle is the official emergency notification system used by the City of Seattle to communicate with city residents during emergencies. Sign up now to receive free alerts from the City via text message, email, voice message or social media.
King County’s Get Ready website
There’s no way around it—getting around Seattle is going to be tricky during the SR 99 closure. Expect traffic delays and be prepared for full buses during peak travel times. Check out the travel options below that can help you get around in anticipation of the new SR 99 tunnel opening.
Commute Seattle’s Employer Resources
For over 10 years, Commute Seattle has helped Seattle businesses of all sizes unlock their potential and empower employees to utilize convenient, affordable, and sustainable transportation options.
Did you know that there are over 485 parks in Seattle… and for one day only on September 21, we are adding 62 more!
Friday, September 21 is PARK(ing) Day, a one-day international event that began in 2005. On-street parking spaces are temporarily transformed into pop-up parks, a global idea providing opportunities to showcase locally!
Our PARK(ing) Day is part of the Seattle Design Festival, two weeks of citywide activities, tours, presentations, workshops and exhibits exploring the role of design in our city.
PARK(ing) Day pop-up parks feature a variety of activities, including games, crafts, photo booths, and treats! We’ve seen everything from art installations to live music, and from an urban jungle to a swimming pool (no water involved). 😊
Pop-up parks offer a place to relax and enjoy our public spaces, just like our permanent parks around Seattle. By participating in PARK(ing) Day, you have the chance to connect with community members, express yourself creatively, and most importantly, enjoy yourself!
Wondering where you can find a pop-up park on September 21? Check out our interactive map to find a pop-up park near you.
Along with the parks hosted all over the city, we’ve created neighborhood clusters of pop-up parks in seven neighborhoods in Seattle. Clusters allow you to visit multiple parks at a time and enjoy everything the neighborhood has to offer. This year, clusters are located in:
• Beacon Hill
• Capitol Hill
• Delridge
• University District
• Lake City
• Rainier Beach
• Pioneer Square
Parks will be popping up all over the city from 9 AM – 7 PM; refer to the interactive map for hours, and then RSVP to the event on Facebook and share with your friends!
When you check out pop-up parks on PARK(ing) Day, be sure to note which ones you like best and why… because on event day, you’ll be able to vote (online survey) for your favorites in each of three categories:
If you want to help celebrate the PARK(ing) Day award winners, swing by the celebratory after-party, hosted at the Center for Architecture and Design from 7 – 9 PM. We can’t wait to see who wins and honor ingenuity!
If you’d like to participate in PARK(ing) Day next year, be sure to keep an eye on our PARK(ing) Day program page. If you have any questions, please contact Kadie Bell Sata at kadie.bell@seattle.gov or at 206-386-4575.
Image by Google Maps | www.google.com/maps
Our Urban Forestry crews will be doing landscape and irrigation maintenance along Mercer St, between 5th and Fairview avenues N, the next two weekends. We are cutting back weeds and other vegetation to maintain safety and accessibility for people walking and driving through the area. It’s all part of the larger effort citywide, completed by a small but nimble team.
September 15 – 16 | 7 AM – 3:30 PM daily
September 22 – 23 | 7 AM – 3:30 PM daily
Closures |
Questions? Email seattle.trees@seattle.gov or call 206-684-TREE (8733).
There’s only ONE game this week if they win again tonight!
We know–they’re in Fairfax, Virginia for game 3 of 5 in the WNBA Finals, just a hop over the Potomac from D.C., but fans might decide to stay home to watch the game, or stay put for a while at a favorite sports pub to watch…leaving streets with lighter traffic. What?! It could happen! (and this last scheduled I-5 Revive weekend would me a good time for it…)
Let us just take this moment to honor them….
Game 3 of the WNBA Finals‘ Best-of-5 is tonight, after the Storm took the first two against the Mystics! There can be only one…. | 5 PM PST on ESPN. We probably don’t even need to know this, but the last 2 games of the Best-of-5 are:
Seattle Mariners host San Diego Padres at Safeco Field, for a second time this week; 3:40 PM start.
Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 11 AM – 6 PM.
Virtual Self – Utopia Tour concert at WaMu Theater; 7 PM – 11:45 PM.
The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, Opening ceremony at Seattle Center North Fountain Lawn; 7 AM (walkers arrive 5:30-6:30 AM). Note: public parking will NOT be available in Memorial Stadium Parking Lot. Visit Seattle Center’s parking page for more info.
Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 11 AM – 6 PM.
Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 12 PM – 9 PM.
Leon Bridges: Good Thing Tour concert at WaMu Theater; 8 PM – 11 PM.
**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!
**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.
Seattle Fiestas Patrias, Annual festival and parade in Seattle’s South park neighborhood to commemorate the independence of Latin American countries; parade 10 AM – 1 PM then festival 1 PM – 6 PM.
Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 10 AM – 9 PM.
Battery Block Party event, closing Battery St between 1st and 2nd avenues; 10 AM – 8 PM.
Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 10 AM – 6 PM.
The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, spectator/route information here (starts/ends at Seattle Center).
**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!
**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.
**Mercer St will be closed for repaving, between Eastlake Ave E and Yale Ave N, and parking restricted; 7 AM – 5 PM Local access only with up to 15-minute waits to clear equipment, along Yale Ave N between Republican St and Mercer St and Mercer St between Pontius Ave N and Yale Ave N.
**Seattle City Light Denny Substation work (7 AM – 7 PM):
Cosmo 7K run and 5K run & walk along Alki Beach in West Seattle; 9:30 AM – 11 AM
Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 10 AM – 6 PM.
Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 12 PM – 7 PM.
The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, spectator/route information here; closing ceremony at Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium; 4:30 PM. Note: public parking will NOT be available in Memorial Stadium Parking Lot. Visit Seattle Center’s parking page for more info.
**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!
**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.
**Mercer St will be closed for repaving, between Eastlake Ave E and Yale Ave N, and parking restricted; 7 AM – 5 PM Local access only with up to 15-minute waits to clear equipment, along Yale Ave N between Republican St and Mercer St and Mercer St between Pontius Ave N and Yale Ave N.
**Seattle City Light Denny Substation work (7 AM – 7 PM):
Revive I-5 weekend | details POSTPONED due to weather!
Note: work is weather dependent.
Other construction this week (not ** above):
The reality of a 3-week SR 99 closure is on the horizon. No confirmation yet on when – but be prepared!
Finishing 1 day early, EB Denny Way from Fairview to Stewart now has a new center transit lane, complete with red pavement markings and signage. The project was expected to require finishing work and rolling lane closures today, but crews wrapped up early.
Diagram of new Denny Way configuration, Fairview Ave to Stewart St.
The project supports a larger effort to address the historically late King County Metro Route 8, which serves an estimated 10,000 riders per weekday. Afternoon commutes headed EB on Route 8 have been exceptionally congested. The added EB transit lane revamps a key bottleneck, reappropriating a lesser used WB lane for better Route 8 reliability at this location, and on sections of Route 8 in Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill.
Besides enhanced Route 8 reliability, the change is also expected to benefit riders by:
The new bus lane is one piece of a set of improvements intended to enhance Route 8 speed and reliability. Although the changes are not expected to completely solve the reliability problems currently experienced on Route 8, together they should offer noticeable improvement.
Check it out yourself this afternoon!