S Columbian Way / S Alaska Street Paving Project

Paving, protected bike lane, curb ramp upgrades, sidewalk repairs, pedestrian refuge island, drainage upgrades, parking removal, center turn lane removal

Updated: March 22, 2019

What’s happening now?

Construction is in full swing along S Columbian Way / S Alaska St. We've been working on widening driveways this month and we plan to work the next couple of weekends doing base repairs on S Columbian Way and S Alaska St. Landscape restoration will be happening over the next couple of weeks and we expect to start grinding and paving the road soon. Crews will likely do grinding and paving work at night. We will share more once grinding and paving schedules are finalized.

For the latest project construction updates, see our construction email update archive.

We will share regular updates via email and distribute flyers in advance of work near affected properties. You can sign up to receive email updates using the form to the right.

Questions about construction? Email the project team at ColumbianAlaska@seattle.gov or call 206-256-5112.

Project Overview

S Columbian Way / S Alaska St between Beacon Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S is a two-way arterial serving southeast Seattle. This stretch of road provides an important connection for all commuters between Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley. Our goal is to improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort for all users.

We are working to repave about 1 mile of S Columbian Way / S Alaska St between Beacon Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S. As part of the repaving, we will be taking off the old top layer of the road, placing new asphalt and repainting the lane lines. In addition to repaving, we will also be putting in new protected bike lanes along this stretch of road between Beacon Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S. To create space for the protected lanes, we will be removing the center-turn lane from Beacon Ave S to Martin Luther King Jr Way S. 

Project elements include:

  • Repaving S Columbian Way / S Alaska St between Beacon Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S
  • Installing new protected bike lanes along S Columbian Way / S Alaska St
  • Installing or upgrading curb ramps to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Replacing traffic detection loops that control the signals
  • Repairing and replacing some sections of sidewalk in the project area
  • Building a pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of S Alaska St and S Alaska Pl
  • Removing some on-street parking, including planting strips that may be currently used for parking
  • Removing the center turn-lane in segments of the corridor

map of Columbia Way project

cross section view of lanes with one sidewalk, planting strip, bike lane, buffer and travel lane in each direction.

For more information about out 2018 paving projects, visit Current Paving Projects.

Project Schedule*

2016

Initial design and outreach

Spring - Summer 2017

Updated design

Community outreach continues

Fall 2017

Final design

Late 2017

Advertise for construction

Summer/Fall 2018

Construction begins

Spring 2019

Construction ends

*This schedule if a rough estimation of the project timeline. The schedule is subject to change.

Funding

Total project budget: $2.02 million
Funding Sources:

  • SDOT’s Arterial Asphalt and Concrete Program
  • Sidewalk Safety Repair Program
  • Levy to Move Seattle

Outreach To Date

FormatDocument/DescriptionDate
Flyer Pre-construction flyer August 2018
Flyer Spring 2018 fact sheet Spring 2018
Flyering Southeast business survey collection March 2018
Flyering S Columbian Way / S Alaska St residential flyer December 2017
Mailing Project letter to the community
Mailed to ~200 homes and businesses		 October 2017
Flyer May 2017 fact sheet
Distributed to ~500 homes, businesses, and at fairs and festivals		 Summer 2017
Email update Southeast cross-section announcement March 2017
Briefing Settle Bike Advisory Board December 2016
Briefing Rainier Vista Traffic Safety Committee December 2016
Flyer Southeast Door Hanger
Distributed to ~500 homes and businesses		 November 2016
Email update Southeast Open House Summary November 2016
Open house Southeast Open House Meeting Boards October 2016
Open house Southeast Open House in Columbia City
Close to 30 people signed-in		 October 2016
Flyer and email update Southeast Project Fact Sheet October 2016
Flyer Southeast Open House Notice
Distributed to over 500 homes and businesses		 October 2016
Email update Southeast Survey Results Summary October 2016
Email update Southeast Survey Results September 2016
Flyer Southeast Paving Survey Notice
Distributed to ~500 homes and businesses		 August 2016

Get Involved

If you would like to learn more about the project or would like to request a briefing, please do not hesitate to contact us.