 The Lake Washington Ship Canal: An important connection between Lake Washington and Puget Sound
 Photo from 1914 showing the Lake Washington Ship Canal under construction (Source: Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) Seattle)
Did you know that Lake Washington and Puget Sound haven’t always been connected? The Ship Canal was finished in 1917, connecting the fresh water of Lake Washington and Lake Union to the salt water of Puget Sound. Today, the fish ladder and locks are the only connection for salmon moving from Puget Sound to Lake Washington and its 607-square-mile watershed.
The Ship Canal is a linchpin for waterway health, maintaining ecological balance, preventing saltwater intrusion, supporting biodiversity, and fostering economic and recreational activities. It's a testament to the careful management of human-made interventions to ensure the well-being of both natural ecosystems and communities. Seattle Public Utilities, in partnership with King County, are doing our part to keep the Ship Canal healthy. When completed, the new storage tunnel will keep more than 75 million gallons of polluted stormwater (aka rain) and sewage on average each year from flowing into the Lake Washington Ship Canal, Salmon Bay, and Lake Union.
Visit our project website to learn more about the project and check out our Flickr albums for recent construction photos.
Ballard
Crews continue to dismantle, clean, and remove the equipment that was needed to build the tunnel.
You should anticipate:
- Nighttime truck movements may be necessary to remove large equipment over the next few months
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Crews continue working two shifts, 20 hours a day, five days a week. Some work may occur on Saturdays.
East Ballard
Crews have completed the isolation maintenance hole structure on 11th Ave NW and installation of a duct pipe in NW 45th St. 11th Ave NW has been opened to two-way traffic and will remain open through January 1. Following the new year, the one lane traffic configuration will return. Crews are now replacing a segment of water main in NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW. 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 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Fremont
Crews continue building the permanent structure inside the shaft and installing conveyance pipes that connect to the storage tunnel. They also continue building the large underground mechanical and electrical vault.
Crews continue work replacing a water main segment in Leary Way NW.
Local closures and detours:
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Leary Way NW is reduced to one lane each direction until mid-December for water main work. Lane closures will shift at times, but one lane will always be open in each direction.
- In December, the water main work will also require short-term overnight work to connect the new water main to the existing system. Customers will be notified of any water service interruptions.
- On 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, the street remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through 2023
- NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic during this closure
- NW 36th St, between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW, remains closed through 2023
- Pedestrian detours are in place on Leary Way NW; please follow all detour guidance
You should anticipate:
- Truck traffic on Leary Way NW as trucks bring materials and equipment to and from the site
- Concrete trucks entering and leaving the site
- Fans running during work hours to provide fresh air to crews working in the shaft
- 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 6 pm; and some Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
 Support local businesses banner in Wallingford
Wallingford
Our contractor is continuing installation of the conveyance pipe on N 35th St between Interlake Ave N and Stone Way N. Another crew will also begin work soon on a conveyance pipe between Interlake Ave N and the Wallingford shaft site. The crosswalk across N 35th St has moved from the east side to the west side of the intersection.
We understand that traffic is a challenge in this area. We continue to keep an eye on neighborhood impacts and add new signage for detours and safe access to businesses. Businesses are open and ready to serve the community. Please support local businesses and follow all detour signage and safety directions when traveling through the work area.
See our detour maps for cyclists and pedestrians.
N 35th St closure vehicle detour:
- Check out the vehicle detour map
- Traffic is detoured via N 40th St and Wallingford Ave N, and via Woodland Park Ave N and N 34th St
- The all-way stops remain in place at Woodland Park Ave N at both N 35th St and N 34th St, and also at Wallingford Ave N and N 35th St
- Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St remains closed to vehicles and bicycles
- Please adhere to Road Closed, Local Access Only, and Traffic Revision Ahead signage and follow marked detour routes
N 35th St closure bicycle detour
- Check out the bicycle and pedestrian detour map
- Bicyclists are detoured to the west on N 35th St and to the south on Woodland Park Ave N
- Access to the Burke Gilman Trail is on N 34th St at Stone Way N and at Troll Ave N
- Please dismount and walk if you use the sidewalk
You should anticipate:
- N 35th St between Stone Way N and Interlake Ave N and the intersection of N 35th St and Stone Way N are closed
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Vibrations typical of a c-onstruction site
- Truck traffic from the North Transfer Station hauling waste away from the station between 5:30 pm and 7:30 am, 7 days a week. Flaggers will be on N 34th St from 6 am to 8 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm to help control traffic and direct trucks out of the gate.
- Road and periodic sidewalk closures
- Temporary bus stop on Woodland Park Ave N is being relocated and Metro bus routes 31, 32, and 62 have been detoured. Please view service advisories on King County Metro’s website.
Regular work hours at the Wallingford shaft site will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm. Crews also work a second shift in the tunnel and there will be occasional surface work at the shaft site.
Regular work hours on N 35th St and Stone Way N will be Monday through Friday, 7 am to 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur periodically.
North Transfer Station hauling hours reminder
During this closure, the North Transfer Station team will haul waste away from the station in containers between 5:30 pm and 7:30 am, 7 days a week. For the next several months, trucks will exit the station eastbound on N 34th St to connect to Wallingford Ave N, where they will head northbound to N 45th St. From N 45th St, they will either connect to Highway 99 or I-5. Please note that sometimes these routes must be adjusted to account for illegally parked cars that prevent the large trucks from making some turns. Flaggers will be on N 34th St from 6 am to 8 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm to help control traffic and direct trucks out of the gate. These trucks require a significant turn radius. Please yield to truck traffic when possible or as directed by a flagger.
North Transfer Station operation hours will remain the same.
Queen Anne
Crews continue to build walls for the permanent structure as well as pipes and utilities inside the shaft. Crews are also installing storm drainage utilities at the site.
Local closures and detours:
- Localized Ship Canal Trail detour at least through 2023 (see map). Please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
- West Ewing Mini Park parking closure through 2023
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- 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 6 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.
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