 How are we “Investing in the Health of the Sound and the Future of Our Region”?
 You’ve likely seen the project tagline “Investing in the Health of the Sound and the Future of Our Region” in our materials. So, what does that investment really look like? Here’s the latest scoop! On June 26, the Ship Canal Water Quality Project (SCWQP) team released a revised budget and schedule. The new budget estimate for the project is $710 million at an 80% confidence. This means that even with the inherent variability, risks, and dependencies in construction, we are 80% confident that the project will come in on or under budget. Project completion is now expected to be in 2027.
The new project schedule means construction of our Ballard Pump Station and conveyance will extend into 2027 and the project as a whole (including the tunnel that MudHoney helped build) will be operational in 2027.
Even with strong project and risk management, we have been no match for the unprecedented cost escalation, pandemic impacts, and tunneling challenges we faced in the past six years. The original project budget, established in June 2018, was $570 million at a 65% confidence.
We are committed to managing costs within Seattle Public Utilities’ rate path established in the Proposed 2025-2030 Strategic Business Plan with no impact to the City’s General Fund. This new estimated budget for SCWQP will not result in any rate increase above our planned rate path.
For those who may be new to the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, Seattle Public Utilities and King County Wastewater Treatment Division (KCWTD) are working to deliver one of the largest combined sewer overflow reduction projects in the state’s history. This includes a 2.7-mile, 18-ft diameter storage tunnel, two 8-ft diameter tunnels, and a large pump station. The project will improve water quality regionally by keeping more than 75 million gallons of polluted stormwater (from rain) and sewage on average each year from flowing into the Lake Washington Ship Canal, Salmon Bay, and Lake Union. The project is mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Ecology and is jointly financed by SPU (about 65%) and KCWTD (about 35%).
Please visit our project website to get the most up to date information about the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, a partnership between Seattle Public Utilities and King County Wastewater Treatment Division. Check out our Flickr albums for recent construction photos as well.
Ballard
Work at the Ballard site is beginning to slow down as crews finish preparing the site for the next contractor. The site will be relatively quiet over the summer. Look for updates in the coming months as we prepare for construction on the new pump station and conveyance pipes to begin.
East Ballard
Crews continue sidewalk restoration and paving in 11th Ave NW and NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW. 11th Ave NW will be fully open after paving is complete. The Burke Gilman Trail is expected to be moved back to its original location on the south side of NW 45th St during the week of July 8. NW 45th St will re-open later this summer. Please be mindful of the change to all traffic (cars, bicycles, and pedestrians) as you move through the area.
Lane closures and detours:
- 11th Ave NW is reduced to one lane of traffic, with temporary signals in place during restoration work
- NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW remains closed until later this summer
- The Burke Gilman trail detour remains in place until at least the week of July 8
You should anticipate:
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
- Paving equipment in the area
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm.
Fremont
Crews continue installing equipment inside the shaft and buried utilities at the site. They also continue installing mechanical and electrical systems inside the vault in N 36th St.
Leary Way NW is expected to fully reopen by mid-July. Later this summer, there will be lane closures for final paving.
Local closures and detours:
- On 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, the street remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic until fall 2024
- 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 until fall 2024
- 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
- 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.
Wallingford
With the opening of the intersection at N 35th St and Interlake Ave N, all of N 35th St is now open! There will be lane closures this summer to allow for more utility work and roadway restoration.
Starting as early as July 22 the north half of N 34th St at Stone Way N, including the left turn lane from N Northlake Way onto westbound N 34th St, will be closed for several weeks. The crosswalk on the north side of N 34th St across Stone Way N will also be closed, Crews will be doing utility work, then paving and restoring the roadway. See our updated detour map. There will be local access only on westbound N 34th St from Wallingford Ave N, including access to the North Transfer Station. Vehicles leaving the North Transfer Station will need to exit eastbound to Wallingford Ave N.
The pedestrian crosswalk on the south side of the intersection of Stone Way N and N 35th St remains closed. The other three crosswalks continue to be open.
Within the site at the northeast corner of N 35th St and Interlake Ave N, crews continue to remove the concrete wall around the top perimeter of the shaft, install equipment inside the shaft and build the above-ground electrical building. Crews removed a portion of the temporary screen wall on the east side of the site to make way for buried utilities and a permanent retaining wall and will remove the remainder of the temporary screen wall over the next few months.
Beginning the week of July 8, the sidewalk on the west side of Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St will be closed for replacement. This work will take several weeks.
Puget Sound Energy will be performing work in N 34th St near Stone Way N within our site starting in July.
See our updated detour maps for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Stone Way N closure vehicle detour
- 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 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
Stone Way N closure bicycle detour
- Bicyclists are detoured to the west on N 35th St and Woodland Park Ave N
- Access to the Burke Gilman Trail is on N 34th St at Stone Way N and at Troll Ave N
N 34th St detour
- Single-lane eastbound traffic on N 34th St
- Westbound traffic detoured at Wallingford Ave N up to N 40th St. Local access will be provided to businesses and residences.
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Vibrations typical of a construction site
- Road and periodic sidewalk closures
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7 am to 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur periodically.
Queen Anne
Crews have completed site restoration. The Ship Canal Trail is currently open in its original configuration. There may be localized trail detours in coming months as needed for crews to work. We will keep you updated on the timing of any remaining work as we have more information to share.
Local closures and detours:
- Potential localized Ship Canal Trail detour in coming months as needed. Please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
- West Ewing Mini Park parking closure through mid-2024
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm.
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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