John Lewis Memorial Bridge

Updated October 26, 2021

Project overview

The Northgate neighborhood is a major residential and employment destination that continues to grow. With Sound Transit's Link light rail station now open, the neighborhood is poised to become one of the region's most active transit hubs.

The John Lewis Memorial Bridge brings together historically divided North Seattle neighborhoods and provides new connections for people walking, rolling, biking, and taking transit. With Link light rail now operating at the Northgate, Roosevelt, and U-District Stations, people walking, biking, and rolling have expanded safe, affordable, and accessible way to options to travel across the region. 

Click here for more photos from the ribbon-cutting event.

Connecting communities on the east and west sides of I-5 in Northgate

We've completed construction on this new, accessible, all ages and abilities pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 5 (I-5) in Northgate. The John Lewis Memorial Bridge improves access to communities, services, and opportunities on the east and west sides of I-5 in Northgate and Licton Springs, helping knit together a historically divided area. It also reduces travel time for people walking and biking between the east and west sides of I-5. The bridge helps connect the neighborhood's thriving job and retail centers with the rest of the city and region.

The bridge stretches about 1,900 feet over I-5, landing at North Seattle College on the west side and at 1st Ave NE and NE 100th St, near the Northgate Station, serving Sound Transit's Link light rail station, on the east side.

The project consists of 4 main parts:

• Bridge spans over I-5
• Western approach between North Seattle College and wetland area, connecting to College Way N and N 100th St
• Eastern approach between I-5 and 1st Ave NE at NE 100th St, near the King County Transit Center
• Multi-use path along 1st Ave NE

The project benefits the area by providing:

• A new connection over I-5, decreasing travel times for people walking and biking between the 2 sides of the highway
• Safety improvements and access for people walking and biking throughout the Northgate area
• Better access to regional transit at the King County Transit Center and Link light rail station, resulting in increased use of transit facilities
• Improved connections between the Northgate retail center for its employees and customers and for residents and visitors to other nearby amenities, such as parks and medical and social services

Project location

1st Ave NE improvements and features

We installed a new 2-way protected bike lane (PBL) along the west side of 1st Ave NE between NE 92nd St and NE 103rd St (see image below). 

At NE 103rd St, people biking can use the crosswalk to access the east side of the street, where a multi-use path will continue north toward Northgate Way.

1st Ave NE has one vehicle travel lane in each direction with a left turn pocket at NE 100th St. The existing transit center bus stops have been relocated to the east side of 1st Ave NE, between NE 100th and NE 103rd streets. 

North Seattle's growing bike network

The PBL connects with the John Lewis Memorial Bridge at NE 100th St, the existing bike lanes on NE 92nd St, and other community connections in the area. These improvements provide easy access to regional transit and to the citywide network of walking and biking routes.

Protected bike lanes combine the elements of a multi-use path with a conventional bike lane. They provide space for bikes that is separated from vehicles, parking lanes, and sidewalks.

Cost-saving changes

We formed a new design team in 2016 to help reduce project costs and meet project goals. The team developed a bridge design that includes the following cost-saving changes and design improvements:

Finally, an added benefit of the revised design is enhanced user experience with features such as a wetland wildlife overlook and a view of arriving light rail trains at NE 100th St.

How we incorporated public feedback into the design

Based on community input throughout the project, we addressed some of the following items:

• Minimized environmental impacts of the bridge by making sure, for example, that the project didn't disturb wildlife during construction and ensured the bridge’s drainage system (for stormwater) is designed to enhance wetlands on the west end
• Ensured safety and security of all bridge travelers
• Incorporated wayfinding and traffic control into design
• Considered the experience of people biking and using other wheeled devices (e.g., scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, rollerblades, suitcases, etc.)
• Connected the bridge to other infrastructure, including neighborhood bike routes
• Separated modes of traffic on the bridge

Other topics of interest included the project’s cost, the bridge’s durability, and maintaining vegetation.

We value the community input provided throughout this project. 

Tree mitigation plan

Trees are fundamental to the character of Seattle and to our quality of life. In our rapidly changing climate, Seattle's urban forest is an increasingly important asset, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change impacts, including heat island effects, as well as supporting Seattle's public health, providing habitat for wildlife, creating spaces for exploration and enjoyment, cleaning our air and water, and reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff, further helping water quality. 

As part of the project's tree mitigation plan, we planted 464 trees to replace the 93 trees we removed. The newly planted trees are more suitable for the wetland environment around the bridge. Many of the removed trees have remained on site as part of the project, either in the watercourse to be used as wildlife habitat, or as mulch for the new plantings.

The map below shows the full details. You can click on the map to download a PDF of the plan. 

Designing for a safer bridge

During each phase (planning, design, and pre-construction) of public outreach, we heard that bridge safety is a priority for all bridge users. The sections below outline how safety is incorporated into all aspects of the bridge's design.

Design and accessibility

Throughout the design process, we used an approach called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This approach is based on the idea that people's behavior within an urban environment is influenced by the design of that environment.

CPTED strategies include things like providing ample lighting to avoid blind spots, maximizing sight distance and visibility (sometimes called "passive surveillance"), and using materials that promote easy maintenance. This strategy also aims to create spaces that give a sense of ownership of public space and a sense of shared responsibility for personal security.

There are several safety elements on the bridge, including:

• Minimal surface area for vandalism
• Overhead pedestrian lighting
• Emergency call boxes 
• Pedestrian guardrails
• Lighting on handrails 
• Throw fences

The City of Seattle strives to make city programs, services, and activities equally accessible to all. Our bridge design complies with 2010 ADA Standards and includes the following features:

• A bridge slope of 4.3%, except between the Sound Transit mezzanine and the NE 100th St level, which is 8.1%. This section has ADA-compliant handrail grips and 1.8%-slope landings every 30 feet to provide resting places.
• Elevator access via the Northgate Station Garage, including where the bridge connects to the Northgate Link light rail station, during normal hours of operation.
• Curb ramps along 1st Ave NE and NE 100th St, where the bridge spur lands.
• Accessible pedestrian signals at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and NE 100th St, which will offer push-button activation, audible signals, and vibrations to indicate when it's safe to cross the street. 

Materials

All bridge materials and connections went through intensive testing during construction, including the I-5 spans, which underwent rigorous quality assurance testing during fabrication, assembly, and installation. The trusses of our bridge are made of steel, a proven and reliable material for hundreds of thousands of bridges across the nation.

Life expectancy

Our bridge meets the 75-year design life expectancy criteria consistent with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design codes. Not only does our design meet this standard, but it's also expected to exceed a lifespan of more than 100 years with routine maintenance during its service life. 

Environmental 

We selected vegetation and greenery around the bridge with safety in mind. Creating park-like qualities on the trails and spaces near the bridge provide a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere and a "sense of place" for all users. Examples of this can be seen on the west side with a wildlife overlook, and on the east side where a "gallery forest," or screen of tall and narrow trees, is installed between the bridge and the freeway. It provides relief from views of the freeway and filters air quality.

Additional environmental features include:

• Planting low-growing shrubs and bushes around the bridge
• Trimming, thinning, or removing existing trees and undergrowth created open sight lines
• Carefully designed plantings on the west side of the bridge so that pedestrians on the landing have a clearer view of North Seattle College (NSC), and those on the NSC playing field and in the parking lot can see bridge users approaching  

Funding

Funding was secured from various sources, including SDOT, Sound Transit, Washington state, and additional local funds. This project was supported by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, which was approved by voters in 2015.

Outreach events

Materials

January 2020

• Winter 2020 Drop-in Summary

December 2019

• Construction flyer - English
• Construction flyer - Chinese
• Construction flyer - Spanish 
• Construction flyer - Russian
• Construction flyer - Vietnamese
• Construction notice
• North Seattle Park & Ride closure notice
• Final Design flyer

Environmental Review

• NEPA DCE
• Environmental Justice Discipline Report
• Hazardous Materials Tech Memo
• Fish and Wildlife Tech Memo
• Endangered Species Act - No Effects Document
• Wetland Discipline Report
• Conceptual Wetland and Watercourse Mitigation Report
• Cultural Resources Report (Section 106) and supporting documents
• 4(f)
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

August 2018

• 1st Ave NE Improvements handout

April 2018

• Spring 2018 Outreach Summary

March 2018

• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist
• Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS)
• Drop-in session display boards
• Environmental review handout
• Project area mailer

February 2018 - Project information folio

December 2017 - Email update

November 2017

• Presentation to North Seattle College

October 2017 - Email update

August 2017

• August Open House Summary
• Open house postcard
• Open house display boards
• Project fact sheet
• Online open house

July 2017 – Email update

June 2017

• Presentation to Bicycle Advisory Board
• Presentation to Maple Leaf Community Council
• Presentation to Pedestrian Advisory Board

April 2017 – Project fact sheet

Previous Design Materials:

October 2015

• Open house presentation
• Display boards
• Project factsheet
• Event summary

September 2015 – Seattle Design Commission presentation

June 2015 – 2015 TIGER Grant application

July 2015 – Project factsheet

November 2014 - Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge: Alternative Development and Selection report

October 2014 – Presentation

September 2014 – Presentation

August 2014 – Presentation

June 2014

• Presentation
• Display boards
• Summary
• Project brochure

April 2014 - TIGER Grant application  (Not selected. TIGER Grant is a highly competitive federal funding source)

April 2014 - Project fact sheet

February 2014 - Presentation

Background Resources

• Northgate Urban Design Framework – July 2013 (Seattle DPD)
• Northgate Pedestrian Bridge Feasibility Study Report – December 2012 (King County Department of Transportation)
• Northgate Outreach – Report on Focus Group Findings – April 2013 (Seattle DPD)
• Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
• Seattle Bicycle Master Plan
• Seattle Department of Planning and Development - Northgate
• Seattle Neighborhood Street Fund Program
• Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
• Sound Transit Northgate Station Project Web Page
• Sound Transit - Transit Oriented Development Urban Design Study