Date: November 21, 2001

West Lake Union Improvement Project Open House Scheduled for December 2001

The West Lake Union Improvement project is well underway and construction is scheduled to begin in January 2002. An Open House for residents, businesses and interested community members is scheduled for December 11 at the AGC Building, 1200 Westlake Avenue N., 2ndFloor Westlake Room from 4-6 p.m. The purpose of this open house is to further familiarize the public with the project before the start of construction. There will be visual displays, literature and staff members on hand to address questions regarding the project.

Construction for the West Lake Union Improvement project is expected to last approximately 12 months. Please note that due to the nature of construction, schedules are likely to change. City departments will keep the community informed of the most current schedule.

The West Lake Union project is a partnership between Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), Seattle Transportation (Sea Tran) and City Light, that includes drainage, street, parking and power distribution improvements along Westlake Avenue N. between the Fremont Bridge and the south end of Lake Union.

Seattle Public Utilities will replace the deteriorating storm drainage system in the Westlake Avenue N. right-of-way from the south end of the Fremont Bridge to the south end of Lake Union. Additionally, we will upgrade inlets and catch basins in the roadway and parking areas, install a 12-inch to 30-inch storm drain mainline, and replace and consolidate 15 existing outfalls into just four locations at Halladay, Crockett, Blaine and Galer streets. Storm water treatment units will be installed at those four points to remove pollutants prior to discharge into Lake Union.

Seattle Transportation will construct an 8- to10-foot wide multi-use pathway that will replace the existing railroad tracks that are adjacent to the west shore of Lake Union. The pathway, located in the area between Westlake Avenue N. and West Lake Union, will stretch between South Lake Union and the Fremont Bridge. Additional improvements include paving Westlake Avenue N., paving and reconfiguring the parking area located between Westlake Avenue N. and Lake Union, improving transit stops and pedestrian crossings, and installing street-end viewpoints at Halladay, Crockett, Blaine and Galer streets. Additional landscaping will also be installed along the edge of the street and in the parking areas.

City Light will install new vaults and ducts for the existing high capacity 26kv service under Westlake Avenue N. for the entire length of the project area.

We encourage you to attend the open house on December 11 to find out more about the project, and the impacts it will have on your community. 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: Karla Clark, Community Information Specialist, at (206) 615-0866 or karla.clark@ci.seattle.wa.us.