15th Ave S Improvements

Updated: April 14, 2021

Project Overview

15th Ave S between S Spokane St and S Angeline St is a two-way arterial serving southeast Seattle. This stretch of road provides an important connection for people traveling between Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley. SDOT wants to ensure that these improvements contribute to a safer space for all travelers and balance the needs of all modes of transportation, so that everyone can get where they need to go safely and conveniently.

We're repaving about 1 mile of 15th Ave S between S Spokane St and S Angeline St and a section of S Spokane St between S Columbian Way and 18th Ave S.

In addition to paving, we're making improvements at the 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way intersection. These improvements include a new pedestrian-friendly peninsula and updated roadway striping. Contrary to earlier plans, we're not building a plaza and the left turn signal at S Oregon St and 15th Ave S will remain. For more details about the improvements at this intersection, please see the maps below.

Interactive Project Map

Our online project map gives you information about the type of improvements being built throughout the project area, plus a high-level schedule, so that you can anticipate construction impacts near your home or business. You can also leave comments and questions for the project team on the map. Check it out!

Project Map

(Click to enlarge) Details of 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way intersection improvements

Temporary bus stop closure and relocation

Due to construction nearby, the northbound bus stops at S Oregon St - on 15th Ave S and on S Columbian Way - have been consolidated and relocated. Riders can now board buses on the east side 15th Ave S, just south of S Nevada St. This arrangement will be in place until May 2021, when the intersection work is scheduled to be completed. Construction schedules are subject to change; for more information about bus routes and schedules, visit the King County Metro website.

The scope of this project includes:

• New pavement: This will extend the life of the pavement, making the roadway safer and smoother for travel
• Drainage improvements: Improving drainage in the area will extend the life of the roadway and make the streets safer and smoother to use
• Slip lane: This project will improve the slip lane (the right-turn-only lane) at 15th Ave S and S Spokane St
• Upgraded pedestrian push buttons: We'll update push buttons in select locations to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
• Upgraded curb ramps: In select locations, we'll update curb ramps to meet ADA standards
• Improved and updated sidewalks: We'll repave select sidewalks in need of repair
• Improvements at 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way intersection: We'll install a pedestrian-friendly peninsula, new curb bulbs, and improved connections for bicycles.

Below are images of the project area. The first depicts a crosswalk at the 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way intersection that we'll shorten during this project. The second shows damaged roadway along 15th Ave S that we'll repave.

Current configuration: pedestrian island at the intersection of 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way. 

Roadway damage on 15th Ave S.

Project Background

Each year, we pave arterial streets in poor condition to make them safer and smoother, and to extend their useful life. We prioritize paving projects based on pavement condition, traffic volume, geographic equity, cost, and opportunities for grants or coordination with other projects in the area. Paving streets also creates opportunities to improve street safety and move people and goods more efficiently in a growing Seattle. Read more about our current paving projects here.

Get involved

Here are some ways to get more information about the project:

• Subscribe to project email updates
• Review project materials linked below
• Request a briefing for your business or organization (contact us via phone or email)

Schedule

This is our anticipated project timeline, but dates are subject to change.

Early 2020
Complete final design

Summer and Fall 2020
Pre-construction coordination with community

January 2021
Begin construction, starting with the intersection of 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way

Late 2021
Complete construction

Funding

Funding comes from the 2015 voter-approved, 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, which provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city.

The paving portion of this project is funded by our paving program and by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) Preservation Grant and is managed by WSDOT.

This project is also receiving funding from SDOT's Safe Routes to School program, which makes it easier and safer for students to walk and bike in Seattle.

Outreach to Date

Fall 2019
Outreach to community to share information and collect input.

February 2020
Preconstruction open house 

October 2020 
Online drop-in session and pre-construction mailer  

January 2021 
Construction kickoff emails and pre-construction mailer  

Materials

• S Columbian Way Temporary Closure Notification
• Construction Notifications
  • English
  • Amharic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Espanol
  • Oromo
  • Somali
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
• Online drop-in session (October 2020)
  • Recording
  • Materials
  • Q&A
• Final Design Roll Plot
• 90% Design Comments and Response
• Event summary
• Project fact sheet
• Before and after
• Location improvements
• Open house 2020
  • Display boards
  • Presentation

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