2012-2013 Arterial Paving Projects: NE 125th Street / Sand Point Way NE Project – updated 5/2/2013

Project Description

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will repave NE 125th Street and most of Sand Point Way NE in 2013.  The $3M construction cost will be paid primarily with funds from the “Bridging the Gap” transportation levy passed by Seattle voters in November 2006, although the project has also been awarded $1M in federal funds.

Project Benefits

• Repairs to the surface below the asphalt pavement (the road base) to better withstand traffic loads
• New asphalt pavement which provides a safer, smoother ride
• About 85 new or upgraded curb ramps to meet current accessibility standards
• Two new bus shelters
• Addition of three bio-retention structures to the storm-water system

Project Area

Nearly five miles of asphalt roadway will be repaved:

• Roosevelt Way NE from 5th Ave NE (at NE 130th Street) to 11th Ave NE (at NE 125th Street)
• NE 125th Street from Roosevelt Way to Sand Point Way NE (at 40th Ave NE)
• Sand Point Way NE from NE 125th Street to NE 77th Street (just south of the northern entrance to Magnuson Park)

The traffic lanes will be re-established in their current configuration, with two minor improvements.  There will be a right-turn only lane created on westbound NE 125th Street between 30th Ave NE and 28th Ave NE (just before the library).  There will also be an island built in the median of NE 125th Street just west of 20th Avenue NE to allow a north-south crosswalk to be marked at that intersection.

Schedule & Phasing

DOT advertised for construction bids in March 2013, received bids in April and expects the lowest qualified bidder - CA Carey - to begin work in June.

Construction is expected to be substantially complete before the end of 2013. 
The project will be segmented into two zones with five different areas, as follows:

• North-south zone
• Sand Point Way NE between NE 95th Street and NE 77th Street
• Sand Point Way NE between NE 110th Street and NE 95th Street
• Sand Point Way NE between 40th Avenue NE and NE 110th Street
• East-west zone
• NE 125th Street between 23rd Avenue NE and 40th Avenue NE
• Roosevelt Way and NE 125th Street west of 23rd Avenue

The contractor will usually work within one area of each zone at a time to minimize the traffic impacts to the community.

Within a particular area, roadway work will begin with the removal of loose or deteriorated asphalt on the roadway.  This will allow engineers to identify where road base repair may be needed (in addition to the approximately 2 dozen currently known locations). Crews will then replace the road base where needed, often in 10 to 30 feet long sections. 

In the east-west zone crews will be also be busy installing or upgrading curb ramps at numerous street corners while the roadway work is underway (or possibly beforehand).  Only one crossing will closed at a time at any given intersection, and any single curb ramp should be finished within one week of the necessary demolition/removal work.

Placement of the final asphalt overlay within an area should be done over a period of a few nights (8PM -6AM) in areas along Sand Point Way, or a few days in the areas on NE 125th.   The last steps will be to re-stripe the lanes and work on any final punch-list items to be completed. 

Traffic During Construction

NE 125th Street west of 35th Avenue NE and Roosevelt Way NE are wide enough to allow two-way traffic during construction, so traffic in this area will generally be maintained in both directions, even during working hours in this area.  

However, NE 125th Street east of 35th Avenue NE and nearly all of Sand Point Way NE is too narrow for two-way traffic to safely pass around some of the planned work zones.  In these areas, one way traffic flows will be controlled by flaggers in the daytime, alternating between directions as necessary. 

On nights when work is underway, it is possible that traffic will be restricted to one lane of traffic in the north-bound direction and traffic in the south-bound direction will be temporarily detoured as appropriate (depending on the location of the work).  This determination will be made well in advance of construction in cooperation with Metro.

Environmental Factors

The contractor is required to comply with all applicable City, State and Federal regulations regarding prevention of environmental pollution and the preservation of natural resources.  The contract also includes requirements to address:

• controlling noise, particularly during night time activities
• preventing construction activities from affecting groundwater
• avoiding disturbance of great blue herons during their nesting season

What Information You Can Expect To Receive

• If you live or work within 2 blocks of the project area, or have no option but to pass through the project area, you will be sent a postcard with information about the scope of the project and the planned construction dates.
• If you live or work directly adjacent to the project area - Roosevelt Way NE, NE 125th Street or Sand Point Way NE - you will be contacted with a flyer or door hanger in advance of construction.
• If either road base repair or new curb ramp work will be required in front of your home or business, you will be contacted by the contractor’s representative regarding the work schedule at that location.
• If you travel along the project area, you will be provided advance notice of construction by large electronic message boards placed along the route. 
• If you attend meetings of local civic organizations (North District Council, Lake City Chamber of Commerce, Lake City Neighborhood Alliance, etc.) you will receive regular briefings both before and during construction.  A specific list of dates, times and locations will be found here.
• If you request to be added to a project-specific email list (click here), you will be sent periodic notices about on-going and up-coming construction activities.
• If you make a special request for a representative to come to your organization, business, or group for a briefing on the project, every attempt will be made to accommodate you.

What Construction Impacts You Can Expect on NE 125th Street west of 35th Avenue NE (including Roosevelt Way NE)

• Construction activity Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work
• Principally, though not exclusively, daytime work activities
• Increased travel times through the construction zone
• Overnight closures of the NE 130th Street exit from I-5 on a few occasions
• Possible temporary bus stop relocations or closures
• Parking restrictions near work zones
• Short-term driveway closures and sidewalk detours
• Moderate levels of noise, dust and/or mud, particularly in areas of road base repair

What Construction Impacts You Can Expect on NE 125th Street east of 35th Avenue NE and on Sand Point Way NE (if this area is included in the work)

• Construction activity Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work
• Work activity both in the daytime and at night, with nighttime detours likely
• Occasional delays of up to 5 minutes through the construction zone
• Traffic alternating in direction (controlled by flaggers) during the days
• The possibility of only one lane of north-bound traffic at night, with a south-bound detour around the work area
• Temporary bus stop relocations or closures
• Parking restrictions near work zones
• Short-term driveway closures and sidewalk detours
• Moderate levels of noise, dust and/or mud, particularly in areas of road base repair

Project Briefings in the Neighborhood (tentative in italics):

Special Events and Accommodations:

August 2-3, 2013 – Lake City Pioneer Days Festival

This annual celebration is part of the Seattle’s Seafair festivities, and features a parade down Lake City Way as well as craft and food booths west of the parade route on NE 125th Street. 

August 9-11, 2013 – Obliteride 

This fundraiser intends to route bicyclists north on Sand Point Way NE, west on NE 125th Street, then north on 30th Avenue NE and beyond – in some cases far, far beyond, as this ride has 25, 50, 100, and 180 mile variants.

The following provisions have been made for both these events in their respective areas:

• existing pavement or new asphalt on the route (no milled surface, steel plates, etc.)
• no lane closures
• no parking of equipment, material storage or active work
• sidewalks and curb ramps to remain open
• road surface to be cleaned beforehand

Other Projects in Area:

SDOT will also be building sidewalks on the north side of NE 125th Street between Lake City Way NE and 36th Avenue NE in 2013.  For more information about this project, please go here.

SDOT is also planning on roadway improvements along N 105th Street and Northgate Way N/NE between Greenwood Avenue N and Lake City Way NE, described here.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will be making some maintenance improvements to the Meadowbrook Pond in 2013.  For more information about this project, please visit here.

SPU is also considering a repair of the NE 93rd Street Culvert, about which more information may be found here.

And if that weren’t enough, SPU will also be building a new combined sewage overflow storage facility on NE 65th that may require traffic restrictions at times on Sand Point Way between NE 61st and 65th Streets this year.  For more information about this project, please visit here. 

For More Information:

If you have questions, please contact Project Communications Lead Art Brochet at art.brochet@seattle.gov or 206-615-0786.