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: November 27, 2019
What’s happening now?
Our signals, capital projects, and bike program teams have designed new safety enhancements at the S Columbian Way/Beacon Ave S intersection. In the coming weeks, as soon as weather allows, crews will be making adjustments at the intersection.
The following improvements should provide more clarity to drivers at the intersection and increase the safety and comfort of people on bikes up to and through the intersection.
- New bike protection leading up to the intersection
- New bike signals at the intersection
- New road markings and paint on the ground to better distinguish travel lanes
- Restricting left turns in the intersection to keep east/west traffic flowing and prevent collisions between bike riders and drivers
With the new left turn restrictions for drivers looking to go northbound and southbound, drivers will now need to turn right, then make two left turns to get to their respective northbound or southbound destinations. These are called Michigan Left Turns. Suggested turn around streets include S Alaska St and S Ferdinand St. We understand this will be a change for some drivers; however, it will improve the traffic flow in the intersection and protect cars and people that ride bikes from collisions.
Thank you to residents and businesses in the project area for your patience as we have worked to redesign the intersection.
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 repaved 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 took off the old top layer of the road, placed new asphalt and repainted the lane lines. In addition to repaving, we also put 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 removed the center-turn lane from Beacon Ave S to Martin Luther King Jr Way S.
Project elements included:
- 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
Protected bike lane on S Columbian Way and S Alaska St
The new protected bike lane extends beyond the S Columbian Way / S Alaska St Paving Project to 16th Ave S. The rechannelization of S Columbian Way west of Beacon Ave S included the removal of a portion of the center turn lane.
Map of protected bike lane on S Columbian Way and S Alaska St from 16th Ave S to Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.
Protected bike lane between 16th Ave S and Beacon Ave S
For more information about our 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
Late 2019
Construction ends
*This schedule is a rough estimation of the project timeline and 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
| Format | Document/Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Flyer | Striping flyer | May 2019 |
| Flyer | Paving flyer | May 2019 |
| Flyer | Grinding flyer | April 2019 |
| Flyer | S Columbian Way Protected Bike Lane | April 2019 |
| Flyer | Project recap flyer | March 2019 |
| 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.