Community Notices

Grinding and Paving for West Lake Union Improvement Project

Beginning July 7, construction crews will be grinding the roadway in preparation for paving. The grinding will take two to three days. During that time, there will be increased noise and dust control work in the area.

Following the grinding, crews will be paving the entire length of the roadway as well as the remaining unpaved parking areas. Paving is scheduled to take place at night (from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.) and will take about 3 to 4 days. Night work has been scheduled so that crews can work when there is the least amount of traffic on the roads.

Neighbors should expect sounds of vehicles and workers for these 3 to 4 nights and the smell of asphalt during that time and shortly thereafter. Crews will be taking measures to reduce noise where possible and appropriate and consistent with safe work practices while work is going on at night.

Paving is weather-dependent. Work schedules may change due to rain.

A few days following the paving, crews will begin painting the permanent stripes on the roadway and unstriped parking areas.

We expect to have the work, including parking lot and Westlake Avenue North paving restoration, substantially completed by the end of July. Some spot repairs and landscaping, as well as the installation of art and hand-rails at the Crockett and Blaine view decks will take place during August.

Installation Plans for Marked Crosswalks

As soon as Westlake Avenue North is repaved, pedestrian crosswalks will be marked as directed by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

Based on new data from a national study, SDOT has developed new guidelines for the placement of marked crosswalks. These guidelines do not recommend the installation of uncontrolled marked crosswalks across roadways with four or more travel lanes.

There are several reasons for this determination that include the high traffic volumes and speeds. A marked crosswalk across four lanes of traffic increases the risk of a so-called multiple threat, a situation in which one driver may stop for a pedestrian who is crossing in the crosswalk, but the driver in the next lane does not see the pedestrian and does not stop. As such, in all cases along Westlake Avenue North the optimal location for crossing is at a signalized crosswalk.

Based on these new national guidelines, SDOT will install marked crosswalks along Westlake Avenue North between Dexter Avenue North and Valley Street as follows:

Crosswalks will be installed at the signalized intersections at Galer Street and Highland Drive.

A marked crosswalk will be installed at Crockett Street. This location has been placed on SDOT's traffic signal needs list. The location will compete for funds for the installation of a pedestrian signal (Crockett Street is also street right-of-way and therefore is a legal crossing that must be accommodated). In the interim, improvements will be made to increase driver awareness of this crosswalk.

A crosswalk will be installed at Aloha street, on the south leg of the intersection which will divide the pedestrian crossing into two segments - one across Westlake Avenue North, and one across 9th Avenue North.

If you have questions about these crosswalks, please contact Megan Hoyt, in the SDOT Pedestrian Program at (206) 684-5124 or via email at megan.hoyt@seattle.gov.

Some General Impacts:

Crews will prepare the site for the July 4 festivities and the site will be secured for the weekend. Please remember that the view decks on the west side of Westlake are under construction and not available for use.

Limited and sometimes no parking in the specific areas under construction; periodic limited access; lane closures and traffic flaggers on Westlake Avenue North; noise from large construction vehicles; increase in dust and mud during construction.

During construction, impacts to the surrounding community and through traffic are to be expected. The City of Seattle requests patience and cooperation from travelers and residents. City departments will work with the community in efforts to minimize impacts and disturbances.

Heavy construction for the West Lake Union Improvement project, including the repaving of Westlake, is expected to last approximately until the end of July. This heavier work will be followed by restoration work that will include, final restoration of the last unpaved parking areas, finish work at the view decks, final landscaping installation and installation of the art elements. Due to the nature of construction, schedules are likely to change. City departments will keep the community informed of the most current schedule.

For more information please check out our web site at www.cityofseattle.net/westlake. In addition, please continue to watch for upcoming notices regarding meetings and construction schedule.

For more information contact:

Mara Rogers
Project Information Specialist
Seattle Public Utilities
(206) 615-0866
mara.rogers@ci.seattle.wa.us