South Lander Street Grade Separation Project

Revised December 11, 2007

Current Status and Information:

The 30% design milestone for the S Lander Street project was completed the third week in September. Work has begun on the next stage of design. The first project newsletter was mailed out in October 2007 and a public open house was held October 23 in the SODO district. The open house gave the public an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the 30% plans and undecided design elements. Click on the following link to view the boards presented at this Open House meeting :

Background and General Project Information:

The South Lander Street Grade Separation project which began in 2003 with a type, size and location study.

The project serves a need recognized in The Access Duwamish Report. The comprehensive study, of transportation and freight needs, recommended a series of projects to separate railroad tracks from street crossings, increasing safety and improving mobility. Thanks to the recently passed transportation funding package - Bridging the Gap - one of these projects, the South Lander Street Grade Separation, is on its way to becoming a reality.

The bridge structure over the BNSF railroad tracks will touch down at First Avenue S and Fourth Avenue S, ultimately providing a roadway that is no longer impacted by the railroad operations.

In January of 2007, SDOT staff and a design consultant began the early stages of design and the process of meeting with property owners immediately adjacent to the project. The first step in this process was to re-confim South Lander Street as the preferred location for the grade separation. An initial analysis was performed in 2002, looking at all of the east-west grade separation options in SODO. This study recommended South Lander Street as the location for the grade separation, but also recommended a closer look at South Hanford Street (see early planning study information below). In early 2007, a new analysis and memorandum were developed, comparing South Lander Street and South Hanford Street for the grade separation. South Lander Street was again recommended as the location for the grade separation. This analysis is attached for your viewing.

Construction is expected to kick-off around mid-2009 and will take about two years to complete.

Benefits of this important project:

• Improve safety on a road that currently crosses BNSF railroad tracks by separating vehicles and pedestrians from train activities.
• Improve access to the SoDo and Duwamish industrial areas.
• Reduce traffic delays caused by train crossings, improving mobility and reliability for travel east and westbound between key south and northbound corridors.
• Enhance access to one of the largest port operations in the United States.
• Help keep traffic moving during the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Early planning estimates place the project cost at approximately $75 million. SDOT has roughly $20 million from the “Bridging the Gap” program and is pursuing additional funding for this important project.

Updated 2007 Type, Size and Location Study:

1. Type, Size and Location Study (PDF format)
   
   
2. Appendix A (PDF format)
   
   
3. Appendix B (PDF format)
   
   
4. Appendix C (PDF format)
   
   
5. Appendix D (PDF format)
   
   

1. Type, Size, and Location Study (Word format)
   
   
2. Vicinity Map (PDF format)
   
   
3. Photo Key (PDF format)
   
   
4. Photos in numerical order:
   
   01 - First Avenue S. and S. Lander Street - Facing East
   02 - Occidental Avenue S. - Facing South
   03 - Occidental Avenue S. - Facing North
   04 - Occidental Avenue S. and S. Lander Street - Facing East
   05 - BNSF Tracks and S. Lander Street - Facing Southeast
   06 - BNSF Tracks and S. Lander Street - Facing South
   07 - Third Avenue S. and S. Lander Street - Facing West
   08 - Third Ave S. - Facing South
   09 - Third Ave S. - Facing North
   10 - BNSF Tracks and S. Lander Street - Facing Northwest
   11 - BNSF Tracks and S. Lander Street - Facing North
   
   Drawings
   
   
5. Plan and Profile
   
   
6. Plan View At-Grade
   
   
7. Typical Roadway Cross-Section
   
   
8. Concrete Box Girder Bridge Plan and Elevation
   
   
9. Concrete Box Girder Bridge Typical Section
   
   Other Concepts Considered
   
   
10. 2 Lane Overcrossing Concept
    
    
11. 4 Lane Undercrossing Concept
    
    
12. 2 Lane Undercrossing Concept
    
    
13. Option 1A - Steel Girder Bridge Plan and Elevation
    
    
14. Option 1A - Steel Grider Bridge Typical Section
    
    
15. Option 1B - Dual Pony Truss Bridge Plan and Elevation
    
    
16. Option 1B - Dual Pony Truss Typical Section
    
    Turning Movement Analysis
    
    
17. First Avenue S. and S. Lander Street WB-67 Turning Movements
    
    
18. First Avenue S. and S. Lander Street WB-67 Turning Movements
    
    
19. Occidental Avenue S. WB-50 Northbound Turning Movements
    
    
20. Occidental Avenue S. WB-50 Southbound Turning Movements
    
    
21. Occidental Avenue S. WB-67 Northbound Turning Movements
    
    
22. Occidental Avenue S. WB-67 Southbound Turning Movements
    
    
23. Third Avenue S. and S. Lander Street WB-67 Turning Movements
    
    
24. Fourth Avenue S. and S. Lander Street WB-67 Turning Movements
    
    
25. Fourth Avenue S. and S. Lander Street WB-67 Turning Movements

For more information:

Project Manager: Lorelei A. Williams, (206) 684-5178
Lorelei.Williams@seattle.gov

Public Information: George Frost, (206) 615-0786
George.Frost@Seattle.gov