 Sewage is gross, but what about stormwater?
 Kumi Hala by Toka Valu - Shark greets Salmon precisely where the salt (Salish Sea) meets the great blue slate (Pacific Ocean)
Once construction of the Ship Canal Water Quality Project is completed, it will begin reducing combined sewer overflows. It is expected to keep more than 75 million gallons of sewage and stormwater from flowing into local waters on average each year.
It is easy to focus on the sewage side. We imagine millions of gallons of sewage entering our waters each year and get *really* excited about stopping combined sewer overflows. But most of these 75 million gallons (on average, each year) will be stormwater and in urban areas like Seattle, stormwater can be very polluted.
Stormwater isn’t just rain; it picks up many pollutants – such as dog poop, yard chemicals, car-related chemicals, spills and more - before it enters any pipes. Yet most stormwater doesn’t get treated before it enters our waters.
In Seattle, we have three types of systems for our sewage and stormwater:
- Where we have a combined sewer system, stormwater and sewage are in shared pipes. During normal weather, it is all sent for treatment. But, during heavy rains, it can overflow into our waters — unless other strategies (like RainWise raingardens and the Ship Canal Water Quality Project) are in place.
- Where we have a separated sewer system, sewage goes in a separate set of pipes to a treatment plant, but stormwater mostly goes into local waters untreated.
- Where we have a partially separated sewer system, stormwater from roofs and properties shares a pipe with sewage, but stormwater from streets mostly goes into local water untreated.
Together, we can reduce pollution in stormwater. Maintaining your car, adjusting your commute, practicing natural yard care, having a spill plan and kit are actions that help protect our waters. Installing rain gardens is another way to both remove pollutants and reduce stormwater entering local pipes.
Seattle Public Utilities is working across Seattle’s drainage and wastewater system to reduce the pollution that enters stormwater and, when possible, to remove pollution from stormwater before it enters our waters. The Ship Canal Water Quality Project is just part of our work delivering equitable essential services and stewarding environment and health.
MudHoney
MudHoney, our 18-ft diameter tunnel boring machine, has currently tunneled 5700 feet! Follow along with our tunneling tracker on our project website.
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 be busy with tunneling activities.
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 continue building the mechanical and electrical vault in NW 45th St and the diversion structure in 11th Ave NW.
Local closures and detours:
- One-lane closure on 11th Ave NW through November 2022. Traffic signals direct northbound and southbound traffic on 11th Ave NW and eastbound traffic on NW 45th St as well as bicyclists and pedestrian trail users. During working hours, flaggers will assist with construction vehicles entering and exiting the site. 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 are working on the diversion structure on 2nd Ave NW. Preparations continue as we plan to resume tunneling our 8-ft diameter tunnel beneath the Ship Canal to the Queen Anne site in October.
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 late 2023.
- 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 and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm.
Wallingford
Crews have poured the upper portion of the Wallingford shaft walls and the walls of the underground odor control facility, which will be housed on the east side of the shaft. Crews are also working inside the underground garage of the Brooks Building through early October. They will continue using an air compressor to complete the work, which will be screened to muffle the sound. The team continues to coordinate this work with the building management.
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 5:30 pm.
Queen Anne
Crews will be installing a large conveyance pipe between the diversion structure and the shaft over the next few weeks.
Local closures and detours:
- Localized Ship Canal Trail detour at least through summer 2023 (see map). Please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
- 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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