3rd Ave and Yesler Safety Improvements Project Update

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 07/09/2024 03:47 PM PDT

3rd Ave and Yesler Safety Improvements Project Update

The 3rd Ave & Yesler Project will begin soon!   

Construction for the 3rd Ave Safety Improvements project will begin soon! Starting the week of July 15, you will begin to see our vision take shape to make the 3rd Ave and Yesler intersection area safer for everyone. Read more to see what we’ll be doing, why, and when. Also, if you'd like more information about the project, please check out the 3rd Ave & Yesler Safety Improvements Project website.

From Pilot to Permanent

In 2022, we began a pilot project to make the area safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. We were able to achieve this by painting new traffic lines on the pavement and installing posts. Other improvements included:

Removing a northbound travel lane on 3rd Ave
Removing the right-turn slip lane from southbound 3rd Ave to Yesler Way
Creating bulbs with the paint and posts at street corners where pedestrians cross

We also moved parking away from the intersection and connected the Yesler Way protected bike lane to 4th Ave S along Dilling Way. After that, we added more durable materials and pavement striping.

Looking Ahead

Starting next week (as soon as July 15, 2024), we will start Phase 3 of our work, where we will:

Improve the travel lanes based on the pilot project’s findings
Align and shorten pedestrian crossings
Repair and widen the sidewalks
Install curb ramps and curb bulbs
Upgrade protected bike lane – which entails –

Installing bicycle signal heads
Providing permanent bike lane protection along Yesler Way west of 3rd Ave
Repaving the bike lane on Dilling Way
Redesigning the bike crossing across 3rd Ave to separate people on bikes from people walking.
Planting new street trees
Providing more pedestrian lighting
Installing more wayfinding signage

The aim with these improvements is to make the public space safer for people walking, biking, using transit, and rolling.

^{Overview graphic/map of the 3rd Ave and Yesler Way Project area}

What to Expect During Construction 

We understand any closures or restrictions of travel lanes on 3rd Ave the duration of construction will impact everyone. From buses, to bikes, to pedestrians. We are actively working to ensure our traffic control plan runs smoothly and impacts travelers as little as possible.

In addition to the phases of sidewalk and lane closures, you can expect:      

Pedestrian Detours
Work in the public right-of-way near businesses
Temporary on-street parking restrictions near intersections
Staged construction equipment and materials as well as noise, dust, and vibrations in the work area
Typical weekday work hours of 7 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday

Thank you!      

Thank you for your interest in the 3rd Ave and Yesler Safety Improvements project and for your patience during construction.    

Sincerely,       

Matthew Howard 

Communications and Outreach Lead      

3rd & Yesler Safety Improvements  

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