E Marginal Way S Paving and Safety Improvements

Updated August 2025

Project Area Map

Project Improvements

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is repaving East Marginal Way S from 1st Ave S to the Seattle/Tukwila city line. Our paving and safety improvements project will restore the pavement, which is in poor condition, to meet the needs of freight and transit. This work will extend the lifespan of the street by 10-20 years. It will also make it more comfortable for you to travel along East Marginal Way S.

During the project's planning phase, we reviewed recommendations from past planning efforts such as the Georgetown Mobility Study, the Seattle Transportation Plan, and the Duwamish Valley Action Plan. People want safer crossings on East Marginal Way S, bike lanes that are separated from cars, and for bike lanes to connect to other bike paths. The project proposes safety enhancements along the corridor to:

• reduce conflicts by separating cars, trucks, and buses from people walking, biking, and rolling
• slow down vehicle turning movements
• make bicycling, walking, and rolling along the corridor safe and comfortable for people of all abilities

The proposed safety improvements are outlined below and can be viewed on the cross sections and key area graphics. Please visit the Project Library section of the webpage to review the early design roll plot. 

Freight

East Marginal Way S is a busy freight corridor and this project will preserve access. In addition to repaving the street, freight improvements in early design include:

• Maintain freight operations, including over legal limits movements
• Separate vehicles from pedestrians and bicyclists along the corridor
• Upgrade signal heads to improve visibility
• Add dedicated signal turn phases to eliminate conflicts between users
• Fix or replace traffic sensors to improve signal operations
• Install drainage improvements

Safety

Because safety on East Marginal Way S was one of the top concerns we heard from the community, our proposed Vision Zero safety improvements include:

• Remove slip lane from northwest bound East Marginal Way S to northbound 4th Ave S and install a widened curb to slow down vehicle turning movements
• Southbound reduction from two lanes from 4th Ave S to Ellis Ave S, which is adjacent to the southern border of Georgetown's residential neighborhood
• Install hardened centerlines on side streets to slow down turning movements
• Upgrade signals along the corridor to improve safety
• Install concrete curb bulbs at key intersections to increase visibility and slow down turning movements 

Biking

To help meet our climate goals, close gaps in our bike network, and separate drivers from people biking along the corridor, the early design bike improvements include:

• Construct a 10-foot wide, two-way protected bike lane with precast concrete barrier along the north side of East Marginal Way S between S River St and Corson Ave S
• Construct an 11-foot wide, sidewalk level Shared Use Path along the north side of East Marginal Way S between Corson Ave S and the Flume Trail as a continuation of the path installed by the Georgetown to South Park Safety project
• Install directional protected bike lanes with precast concrete barrier and flex posts from 16th Ave S to the approach of the Seattle/Tukwila city line
• Install two-way bike crossing at south leg of East Marginal Way S and 4th Ave S for future bike route on S River St
• Install two-way bike crossing at north leg of East Marginal Way S and Carleton Ave S/8th Ave S
• Upgrade signals with dedicated turn phases to support the new bike lanes and reduce conflicts

Walking and Rolling

To improve walkability and neighborhood connections, the pedestrian improvements in early design include:

• Repair sidewalks along the corridor outside of the area where a Shared Use Path is proposed
• Inspect and reconstruct curb ramps to make them complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Install Accessible Pedestrian Signals, which provide auditory, visual, and vibrotactile information, along the corridor
• Install curb bulbs to reduce crossing distances and improve visibility at key intersections

Transit

In addition to repaving East Marginal Way S to meet the needs of transit and improve service, bus improvements in early design include:

• Bus bulb with shelter and lighting for the southbound stop at S Webster St/14th Ave S
• Bus stop upgrades for the northbound stop at S Ellis St
• Repair sidewalks and install ADA curb ramps along the corridor to improve access to bus stops

East Marginal Way S Proposed Cross Sections

4th Ave S to Corson Ave S

Corson Ave S to S Carleton St 

Carleton Ave S to S Ellis St

Ellis Ave S to 16th Ave S

16th Ave S to city boundary

Key Project Areas

4th Ave S and S River St

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Corson Ave S to Ellis Ave S

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14th Ave S to 16th Ave S

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Schedule

Planning (complete): We developed the initial plan for paving and street repairs.  

Design (in progress): We are designing the project. The project will address community priorities, repair the street, and improve safety. We will share our plans and gather community feedback throughout design.

Construction: We will work with the community to understand their needs. We will share information about the construction schedule and activities.

Funding

This project is funded by the voter-approved 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy. To learn more, visit seattle.gov/transportation/levy. It is also partially funded through a Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Preservation Grant. 

Project Library

• Early Design Cross Sections
• Early Design Roll Plot
• Fact Sheet
  • 概況介紹 (Chinese Traditional)
  • English
  • ファクトシート (Japanese)
  • 사실 보고서 (Korean)
  • Hoja informativa (Spanish)
  • TỜ THÔNG TIN (Vietnamese)

Nearby Projects

We’re coordinating with nearby design projects and existing projects in the neighborhood. Learn more about nearby projects by visiting their websites linked below: 

• Georgetown to Downtown Safety Project
• Georgetown to South Park Connection
• Georgetown Flume Off-Leash Area Development
• East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project