Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge
Updated: September 24, 2019
What’s happening now?
We've selected a contractor and are working on completing permitting.
We'll be back in touch later this fall with an update on pre-construction and how best to stay involved throughout the process.
Questions? Contact the project team at NorthgateBridge@seattle.gov
If you need this information translated, please call 206-905-3620
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Project Overview
The Northgate neighborhood is a major residential and employment destination that continues to grow. With the completion of Sound Transit’s Link light rail station in 2021, the neighborhood is poised to become one of the region’s most active transit hubs. Today, a 10-lane interstate divides the neighborhood, and to walk between North Seattle College and the existing transit center is 25 minutes or more.
Connecting communities on the east and west sides of I-5 in Northgate
We designed a new, accessible, all ages and abilities pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 5 (I-5) in Northgate. The Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge will improve 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’ll also reduce travel time for people walking and biking between the east and west sides of I-5. When complete, the bridge will help connect the neighborhood’s thriving job and retail centers with the rest of the city and region.
The new bridge will span roughly 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 future light rail station, on the east side.
The project consists of four 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 will benefit 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 future 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
Design Renderings
The user experience walking or biking across the bridge.
A view of the bridge, looking east.
Recent 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:
| Original Design (prior to 2017) | Revised Design (2017 to present) |
|---|---|
| 20-foot-wide walkway on bridge | 16-foot-wide walkway on bridge |
| 2,100-foot-long bridge length | Shortened bridge length to 1,900 feet |
| East approach conflicted with WSDOT Park-and-Ride at 1st Ave NE | East approach modified as it touches down near 1st Ave NE, simplifying the connection and preserving the WSDOT Park-and-Ride lot |
| West approach included stairs at the North Seattle College, with limited sight distance | West approach modified to improve sight distances and make a more direct connection |
| Complicated construction approach | Standard construction approach to reduce project duration |
| Tube/truss design (enclosed) | More open structure and more graceful bridge transition |
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.
What We’ve Heard through Design
Based on community input throughout the project, we know there’s interest in:
- Minimizing environmental impacts of the bridge by making sure, for example, that the project doesn’t disturb wildlife during construction and ensuring the bridge’s drainage system (for stormwater) is designed to enhance wetlands on the west end
- Ensuring safety and security of all bridge travelers
- Wayfinding and traffic control
- The experience of people biking and using other wheeled devices (e.g., scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, rollerblades, suitcases, etc.)
- Connecting the bridge to other infrastructure, including neighborhood bike routes
- Separating or managing 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 to date and thank you all for your continued interest.
Schedule
We expect construction to begin as soon as fall 2019, and to be complete in mid-2021, prior to the opening of the Link light rail station in September 2021.
Funding
We’ve secured funding from various sources in addition to the voter-approved Move Seattle levy. These include SDOT, Sound Transit, Washington State, and additional local funds.
Stay Informed
In the months ahead as we prepare for construction, you'll have opportunities to learn about how to stay informed throughout the process. Email is the best way to stay up to date on the project and to get notifications about outreach events.
Click here to sign up to receive project email updates
Outreach Events
| Date | Events |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2019 | Live in D5 |
| September 25, 2019 | North Seattle College Fall Fest |
| September 3, 2019 | Olympic View Ice Cream Social |
| July 17, 2019 | Maple Leaf Summer Social |
| July 13, 2019 | Live in D5 |
| April 24, 2019 | North Seattle College Fair |
| October 24, 2018 | Maple Leaf Community Council |
| July 19, 2018 | Thornton Creek Alliance |
| July 18, 2018 | Maple Leaf Summer Social |
| June 30, 2018 | Live in D5! |
| May 11, 2018 | North Seattle College Board of Trustees meeting |
| April 18, 2018 | North Seattle College Earth Fair |
| April 18, 2018 | North Seattle College Earth Fair |
| March 21, 2018 | Drop-in session at Neighborcare Health at Meridian |
| March 20, 2018 | Drop-in session at Aljoya Thornton Place |
| March 19, 2018 | Drop-in session at North Seattle College |
| February 8, 2018 | Sierra Club |
| November 28, 2017 | North Seattle College campus meeting |
| November 2, 2017 | Haller Lake Community Club |
| August 13, 2017 | Idriss Mosque BBQ |
| August 9, 2017 | Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Walking Tour |
| August 3, 2017 | Public open house |
| July 26, 2017 | Maple Leaf Summer Social |
| July 22, 2017 | Live in D5! |
| June 30, 2017 | Department of Neighborhoods Community Conversation Meridian Manor |
| June 14, 2017 | Maple Leaf Community Council |
| June 14, 2017 | Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board |
| June 7, 2017 | Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board |
| May 18, 2017 | Seattle Design Commission |
| May 6 | King County Metro Transit Oriented Development public meeting |
| April 29, 2017 | Housing Affordability and Livability community open house (sponsored by Dept. of Neighborhoods) |
| June 22, 2016 | North District Council |
| May 25, 2016 | Feet First |
| May 18, 2016 | Licton Springs Community Council |
| May 17, 2016 | Victory Heights Community Council |
| May 16, 2016 | North Seattle College (Campus meeting) |
| May 5, 2016 | North Seattle College (students) |
| October 15, 2015 | Public open house |
| September 17, 2015 | Seattle Design Commission briefing |
| August 18, 2015 | Seattle Design Commission subcommittee meeting |
| July 29, 2015 | Maple Leaf Summer Social |
| July 15, 2015 | North Seattle Chamber of Commerce |
| June 17, 2015 | Licton Springs Community Council |
| June 17, 2015 | Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board |
| June 24, 2015 | Pinehurst Community Council |
| May 27, 2015 | Northwest District Council Briefing |
| May 26, 2015 | Cascade Bicycle Club: Connect Northgate |
| May 22, 2015 | Seattle Neighborhood Expo |
| May 12, 2015 | Meadowbrook Community Council |
| May 2015 | Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board |
| April 29, 2015 | Maple Leaf Community Council |
| April 22, 2015 | North Seattle College Earth Day Symposium |
| October 21, 2014 | North Seattle College |
| September 10, 2014 | Public briefing |
| June 3, 2014 | Open house |
| March 2014 | Sound Transit open house |
| February 2014 | Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board |
| February 2014 | Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board |
Materials
January 2019
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
April 2018
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
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
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
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