Nickerson Paving Project

Updated: October 18, 2018

What’s happening now?

Construction is underway for the Nickerson Paving Project. We returned to the corridor to make paving and pedestrian improvements to the final part of the corridor from Queen Anne Ave N to 15th Ave W, also known as Zone C (marked blue in the map below).

Zone C construction began on September 28 and is expected to last up to 2 months.

The interchange at W Nickerson St and 15th Ave W will be closed from Friday, October 5 to Monday, October 22, followed by 2 more weekend closures (Friday, October 26 - Monday, October 29 and Friday, November 2 - Monday, November 5). Please follow the posted detour routes below. 

From Friday, October 5 at 9 AM, you can expect closed movements at W Nickerson St and 15th Ave W including:

A. Northbound 15th Ave W to eastbound W Nickerson St (Movement A open Monday 5 AM - Friday 9 AM)

B. Westbound W Nickerson St to W Emerson Pl Overpass (Fishermen's Terminal)

C. Eastbound W Emerson Pl to northbound 15th Ave W (Movement C open Monday 5 AM - Friday 9 AM)

D. Westbound W Nickerson St to northbound 15th Ave W

E. Eastbound W Emerson Pl to eastbound W Nickerson St (Movement E open Monday 5 AM - Friday 9 AM)

From Monday, October 22 at 5 AM until Friday, October 26 at 9 AM, and from Monday, October 29 at 5 AM until Friday, November 2 at 9 AM, you can expect all movements at this intersection will reopen and remain accessible. Construction work will continue to happen around the intersection, but all movements will be accessible.

From Friday, October 26 at 9 AM until Monday, October 29 at 5 AM, and from Friday, November 2 at 9 AM until Monday, November 5 at 5 AM, you can expect closed movements at W Nickerson St and 15th Ave W including:

A. Northbound 15th Ave W to eastbound W Nickerson St

B. Westbound W Nickerson St to W Emerson Pl Overpass (Fishermen's Terminal)*

C. Eastbound W Emerson Pl to northbound 15th Ave W

D. Westbound W Nickerson St to northbound 15th Ave W

E. Eastbound W Emerson Pl to eastbound W Nickerson St

*Please note that northbound 15th Ave W to westbound W Emerson Pl Overpass (Fishermen's Terminal) will remain open during weekend work.

This work is weather dependent. Typical work hours are Monday - Thursday 7 AM-10 PM; Friday 9 AM-10 PM, Saturday and Sunday 7 AM-9 PM.

Map of Nickerson & 15th Closure

The following detours will be in place during construction:

Map for Detour Movement A

Detour for movement A

  • Proceed northbound on 15th Ave W, go onto the Ballard Bridge, exit and turn right onto Leary Way NW, continue onto N 36th St, continue onto eastbound Fremont Pl N, turn right to go southbound on Fremont Ave N, continue onto Fremont Bridge, and turn right to go westbound on W Nickerson St.

Map for Detour Movement B

Detour for movement B

  • Proceed on the D Ramp (underpass) just east of 13th Ave W to go southbound onto 15th Ave W, exit onto W Dravus St, turn right to go westbound on W Dravus St, turn right to go northbound onto 20th Ave W, continue on Gilman Ave W, turn right to go eastbound on W Emerson Pl. 

Map for Detour Movement C

Detour for movement C

  • Proceed westbound on W Emerson Pl, turn left to go southbound on Gilman Ave W, continue on 20th Ave W, turn left to go eastbound on W Dravus St, turn left to go northbound on 15th Ave W.

Map of Detour Movement D

Detour for movement D

  • Proceed on the D Ramp (underpass) just east of 13th Ave W to go southbound onto 15th Ave W, turn left to go eastbound on W Dravus St, and turn left to go northbound on 15th Ave W. 

Map of Detour Movement E

Detour for movement E

  • Proceed westbound on W Emerson Pl, turn left to go southbound on Gilman Ave W, continue onto 20th Ave W, turn left to go eastbound on W Dravus St, turn left to go northbound on 15th Ave W, cross the Ballard Bridge, exit and turn right onto Leary Way/36th/Fremont Ave, turn right to go southbound on Fremont Ave, turn right to go westbound on W Nickerson St.
  • Alternatively, proceed westbound on W Emerson Pl, turn left to go southbound on Gilman Ave W, continue onto 20th Ave W, turn left to go eastbound on W Dravus St, turn left to go northbound on 11th Ave W, continue onto eastbound W Bertona St, turn left to go northbound on 3rd Ave W and turn left to go westbound on W Nickerson St. 

Bus detours on W Nickerson St (Routes #29 and 31)

King County Metro Bus #29 and 31 will be rerouted from W Nickerson St to 14th Ave W and then to W Dravus St, intermittently. To accommodate this, street parking on 14th Ave W will be temporarily be suspended. 

Please check with King County Metro for more information regarding bus routes.

Sign up for project email updates to get the latest information about what to expect from construction and detour routes. For previous project construction updates, see our construction email update archive.

Thanks for your patience and support while we complete this project. We’ll work to minimize construction impacts as much as possible.

Questions about the project?

Email us at NickersonPaving@seattle.gov or call 206-256-5252 (voicemail line).

Project Overview

Nickerson/W Nickerson St is a principal arterial, major truck route, and a transit street on the north side of Queen Anne that serves 23,000 drivers on an average weekday. Nickerson/W Nickerson St runs parallel to the Ship Canal and is an important access route for freight and maritime communities, and connects Westlake, Fremont, Ballard, and Interbay. Nickerson/W Nickerson St is bordered by residential homes, industrial properties, retail businesses, and Seattle Pacific University.

Project Description

Pavement on Nickerson/W Nickerson St is marked by cracks and potholes and the road base needs repair in many locations. As part of our Paving Program, we'll repave Nickerson/W Nickerson St curb-to-curb between Etruria St and 15th Ave W to make it safer and more comfortable to travel on and extend its useful life. We divided the project into the following areas:

  • Zone A (complete 2017): Etruria St to 3rd Ave W
  • Zone B (complete 2017): 3rd Ave W to 14th Ave W
  • Zone C (fall 2018): 13th Ave W to 15th Ave W

The Nickerson Paving Project will include the following elements:

  • Repave and restripe Nickerson/W Nickerson St between Etruria St and 15th Ave W; striping will maintain current street operation
  • Repair road base in select locations
  • Repave the southbound onramp to 15th Ave W
  • Pave an asphalt sidewalk on north side of the southbound 15th Ave W onramp
  • Pave an existing footpath under the south side of the Ballard Bridge to connect to the RapidRide D Line southbound bus stop
  • Add pedestrian crossing islands in place of paint-and-post crossing islands at
    • W Nickerson St and 11th Ave W
    • Nickerson St and Dravus St
  • Upgrade curb ramps and sidewalk corners in select locations

Nickerson/W Nickerson St was restriped in 2010 to improve traffic operation and safety. This project will repaint the existing pavement markings that are in place, maintaining the street operation that's in place today.

Project map

Nearby Projects

Interbay Trail Connections Project – We’re working on a transportation safety and mobility project in the Interbay and Magnolia communities to better connect major trails. We're proposing a family-friendly connection for people traveling between the Ship Canal Trail, Elliot Bay Trail, and the Ballard Locks, which will help people reach Westlake, downtown, and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Schedule

Summer 2016

Began design

November 2016

Seattle Pacific University briefing

January 2017

Outreach to businesses and residents along Nickerson/ W Nickerson St

Finished design

February 2017

Queen Anne Community Council briefing

Late spring 2017

Pre-construction outreach

July 2017

Began construction in Zones A & B

December 2017

Completed Zones A & B

Fall 2018

Begin Zone C of the project

Winter 2018

Complete project

Funding

Levy to Move SeattleThe project is funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015, and the Pedestrian Master Plan.

Get involved

We're committed to keeping you informed and working with neighbors to limit construction impacts to the extent feasible. Here are some ways to get more information about the project:

Materials