15th Avenue NE at 105th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project

Project Description

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is preparing to rehabilitate the bridge that crosses Thornton Creek on 15th Avenue NE at 105th Street. Due to age and increased traffic volumes, the bridge has deteriorated to the extent that delaying the proposed repairs would result in more significant repairs, longer construction duration, and higher cost.

The bridge crosses the Northgate Branch of Thornton Creek on 15th Avenue NE at 105th Street. The bridge is approximately 1 ½ blocks south of NE Northgate Way, between NE 105th Street and NE 107th Street, and is near Thornton Creek Park.

Project Benefits

Improves safety.

• Corrects structural deficiencies.
• Repairs the pedestrian railing.
• Increases pedestrian comfort by providing a physical separation between the sidewalks and traffic lanes.

Protects an important asset.

• Extends the bridge’s useful life.

Reduces the City’s maintenance backlog.

• Contributes to the improvement of Seattle’s transportation system.

Improvements include:

• Strengthening the bridge structure.
• Replacing expansion joints.
• Repairing cracks and spalls in concrete.
• Adding a separation railing between the sidewalks and the traffic lanes.
• Increasing the substandard height of the pedestrian railing.
• Correcting erosion problems at the ends of the bridge.

Construction Information

• The majority of work is expected to occur from the bridge deck.
• SDOT anticipates construction beginning in late 2009.
• Construction plans are under development. SDOT will work closely with the community to share information as it becomes available.
• Partial and full closure of the bridge is anticipated during construction.

Environmental Considerations

• SDOT has determined that the project is unlikely to have significant adverse impacts on the environment and issued a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) on Thursday, August 13, 2009. This decision was made after review of the project's potential impacts on several elements of the environment, as summarized in the SEPA environmental checklist.

Project Funding

This project is funded by Bridging the Gap, a voter-approved $365 million dollar levy for transportation maintenance and improvements.

Over the next nine years, Bridging the Gap will address the City’s mounting transportation problems and create a strong foundation for Seattle’s transportation future by reducing the infrastructure backlog and investing in major transportation projects.

Want to Learn More?

The design team will balance the impacts of construction while achieving the project’s goal of providing a safe and functional bridge. SDOT will work closely with the community to share project information, answer questions, and address concerns.

For the latest news and information, or to request a project briefing, contact:

Kit Loo
Project Manager
(206) 684-3669
kit.loo@seattle.gov

Maribel Cruz
Project Communications
(206) 684-7963
maribel.cruz@seattle.gov