 Back to School for the SCWQP team
Ship Canal Water Quality Project update 09/19/2024
 An equipment representative demonstrating features of a roadside electrical cabinet in East Ballard for a training session for SPU workers
Our Ship Canal Water Quality Project team is planning ahead for the next feat: operating and maintaining all of the new components of the storage tunnel. Soon, over 90 employees from Seattle Public Utilities, King County, and Seattle IT will be trained on the tunnel’s specialized equipment, requiring a complex curriculum of more than 50 courses over 3 months – talk about a busy back to school season!
Planning this robust schedule has been in the works for over a year. It required meticulous coordination to accommodate the schedules of both employees and the trainers, while keeping class sizes small to maximize learning and prioritize site safety. Employees will attend 2-3 days of training per week, with both classroom and field training sessions. Training will be led by design engineers and equipment representatives. We are getting crews trained up now so that they can help maintain and monitor new components as they go in. Videographers will be recording sessions for future reference and new employee onboarding. We’re so glad to have these crews to help ensure everything is ready to go once the Ballard Pump Station is complete in 2027.
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 has been minimal over the summer as the site awaits the next contractor. The Pump Station and Ballard Conveyance contractor is expected to begin work in late October or early November.
East Ballard
Sidewalk restoration and paving in 11th Ave NW and in NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW is near complete. NW 45th St and 11th Ave NW are expected to be fully open in one to two weeks, and the Burke Gilman Trail (BGT) between 9th Ave NW and 11th Ave NW (between the US Post Office building and the Ballard Fred Meyer store) will be moved back to its original location at that time.
We will notify the community once we know specific dates for road openings and moving the trail.
Lane closures and detours:
- NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW remains closed
- Periodic temporary lane closures will be necessary during work hours, and flaggers will assist with traffic during those times
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 7am to 4pm.
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.
Lane restrictions in Leary Way NW will continue into October 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 late 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 late 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 7am to 6pm; and some Saturdays from 9am to 6pm.
Wallingford
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, continues to be closed for several more weeks during utility and road restoration work.
The intersection at N 34th St and Stone Way N will be fully closed during working hours on September 25 and 26 during road restoration work in the intersection. Traffic will be routed to N 35th St during these periods.
We will notify the community once we know specific dates for road openings.
See our updated detour map.
- Pedestrian crosswalk on the north side of N 34th St across Stone Way N is closed
- 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 must exit eastbound to Wallingford Ave N and follow the signed detour route
- Local access only on Woodlawn Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St
Last year, this area was closed so we could install a bypass for the sewer system that would allow us to install the new pipes. Over 600 feet of deep, large diameter pipe has been installed on N 35th St and Stone Way N. This year, we need to cut off the bypass system and make final connection of the new pipes and complete final pavement restoration. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Within the site at the northeast corner of N 35th St and Interlake Ave N, crews continue to install equipment inside the shaft, build the above-ground electrical building, and remove the temporary screen wall and posts on the east and north sides of the site.
Daytime lane closures along Interlake Ave N for utility installation will continue for several more weeks.
Beginning as soon as September 25, our crews will resume working in N 35th St. Vehicle traffic on Interlake Ave N south of N 36th St will be local access only down to N 35th St. East and westbound traffic on N 35th St near Interlake Ave N will be shifted to the southern portion of the roadway. The parking lane will become the eastbound travel lane. This will require the prohibition of parking for several feet on the south side of N 35th St at, and near, Interlake Ave N. During this configuration, all vehicles parked in that area at any time will become subject to towing. There will be lane closures on N 35th St during the day for additional utility work in N 35th St. Lane closures for utility work will take several weeks. Flaggers will be used to assist vehicles around the work area during work hours. One lane each way will be open evenings and weekends.
Final pavement and sidewalk restoration will follow the utility work and will also take several weeks. We will share details about the traffic control for restoration work when available.
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
N 34th St detour
Westbound traffic is detoured at Wallingford Ave N up to N 40th St. Local access is provided to businesses and residences between Wallingford Ave N and Stone Way N.
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Paving and heavy equipment in the area
- Vibrations typical of a construction site
- Road and periodic sidewalk closures
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Night and weekend work may occur periodically.
Queen Anne
Crews have completed much of the site restoration. Crews are still working on minor installations and finalizing landscaping. 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.
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 early fall 2024
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7am to 4pm.
 We understand that traffic can be a challenge in our project areas. We continue to keep an eye on neighborhood impacts and ensure safe access to businesses. Businesses are open and ready to serve the community. Please continue to support our local businesses!
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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