  Flaggers are onsite to direct vehicles through the lane closure on 11th Ave NW
Why is 11th Ave NW reduced to one lane?
Building a tunnel underground feels like it should be relatively unintrusive to the neighborhoods above. As you’ve probably learned by now, even underground megaprojects come with their fair share of inconvenient surface interruptions. One such interruption is evident at the 11th Ave NW and NW 45th St intersection, which we often refer to as our East Ballard site.
As MudHoney, our 18-ft diameter tunnel boring machine, continues to tunnel toward the East Ballard site, project crews kicked it up a notch this month with some underground diversion structure construction. Crews are building the diversion structure, gate vault, and conveyance pipes on 11th Ave NW that will eventually connect the existing sewer and stormwater pipe to the storage tunnel. This work includes placing rebar and formwork, pouring concrete slabs and all the layers in between.
The vault we’re building is almost as wide as 11th Ave NW and about 26 feet across! To allow crews to do this work, the road has been reduced to a single, narrow lane on 11th Ave NW, just south of NW 45th St. Flaggers will direct northbound and southbound traffic as well as bicyclists during daytime working hours, and traffic signals will direct traffic during non-working hours. Directional signage is also in place.
This traffic configuration will be in place until Thanksgiving and likely resume in early 2023. You can look forward to some relief from the squeeze during the holidays. Crews are scheduled to wrap up construction and restore the East Ballard site in 2023.
As always, check out Flickr for the latest project photos!
MudHoney
MudHoney, our 18-ft diameter tunnel boring machine, continues moving forward and is expected to reach East Ballard no later than next week! Follow along on our tunneling tracker updated on our project website every couple of weeks.
We have a special treat for you this month! Roger Johnson, lead inspector for the Ship Canal project, explains how MudHoney moves forward in a short video that you can find on Twitter or Instagram.
Ground monitoring is ongoing along the tunnel alignment and is done from both inside MudHoney and on the surface.
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Ballard
Our Ballard shaft site near Shilshole Ave NW continues to bustle with activity. Crews use the Ballard shaft site to access the tunnel, deliver supplies to MudHoney, and haul spoils out of the tunnel.
During regular tunneling activities, you should anticipate:
- Truck deliveries of concrete segments and MudHoney equipment
- Nighttime segment deliveries and tunnel spoils being hauled off
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Crews are working 24 hours a day, six days a week and will continue until MudHoney reaches Wallingford in 2023. Sunday work may also occur. The Ballard shaft site is also the site of the future pump station.
East Ballard
Crews are building the diversion structure on 11th Ave NW, requiring the road to be reduced to a single lane. This allows for work to occur in the eastern area of 11th Ave NW, near NW 45th St. Work also continues on the very large mechanical and electrical vault under NW 45th Ave just south of the US Mail facility.
Local closures and detours:
- One-lane closure on 11th Ave NW . Flaggers will direct northbound and southbound traffic as well as bicyclists during daytime working hours, and traffic signals will direct traffic during non-working hours. Directional signage is also in place. For safety, bicyclists should either dismount or cross train tracks at a 90-degree angle. Please use extra caution in wet weather as ramps may be slippery.
- NW 45th St remains closed to traffic between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW; vehicles must detour onto NW 46th St
- Burke-Gilman Trail detour to the north side of NW 45th St through the project area
You should anticipate:
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Fremont
Crews have built a sewer bypass and continue to prepare for conveyance tunneling within the Fremont site’s east end on 2nd Ave NW.
Local closures and detours:
- 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through the end of 2022. NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic to allow access during this closure.
- NW 36th St, between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW, closed through the remainder of the project
- Pedestrian detours on Leary Way NW; please follow all detour guidance on site
You should anticipate:
- Truck traffic on Leary Way NW as trucks bring materials and equipment to and from the site
- Generators running during work hours to power pumps and equipment
- Noise, dust, odor, and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Crews also continue to work on large eight-foot conveyance tunnel pipes underneath white tents within the site from 7 am to 10 pm on weekdays, and possibly 9 am to 10 pm on weekends, over the next few months.
Wallingford
Crews continue working on the Wallingford shaft walls, including concrete pours for the upper portion of the shaft wall.
You should anticipate:
- Concrete trucks coming in and out of the site
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm.
Queen Anne
Crews continue constructing underground vaults and installing conveyance pipe through the summer. The South Ship Canal Trail has been temporarily adjusted so crews can construct the third below-grade vault through summer 2022 and will revert back to the detour shown in the linked map below this fall. Our contractor will be working on both sides of the trail so please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
Local closures and detours:
- Localized Ship Canal Trail detour at least through summer 2023 (see map)
- West Ewing Mini Park parking closure through mid-2023
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Contact us
Please email SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov with questions or comments or call our hotline at (206) 701-0233. You can also find information online at spushipcanal.participate.online. To support the community during active tunneling, we have changed our hotline hours to 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday.
Construction Safety is Everyone’s Job
Check out some top safety tips at www.seattle.gov/utilities/constructionsafety
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