 Ship Canal Water Quality Project update 2/6/2025
The ultimate underground duck race
The lineup of competitors in the 2025 Combined Sewer Storage Tunnel Waterfowl Flotation Endurance Race
On Friday, January 24, five ducks competed in a race through the new underground Ship Canal Tunnel. The going was described as “heavy” but with the forecast of possible flash flooding threatening to worsen conditions, it was anybody’s race.
Race directors had assembled a high-quality field, including novice Release the Quacken, sprint specialist Party Fowl, emotional racer Lane Duck, local favorite Lord Mallard of Ballard, and Typhoon Loon who was fresh off a victory run down another local tunnel.
The race drew an enthusiastic crowd at the finish line. As news filtered to the crowd that the race was underway, the swimmers settled into the long haul with a strong start by Lord Mallard, followed by Release the Quacken, Lane Duck, Party Fowl, and Typhoon Loon bringing up the rear. At the halfway mark the field was largely unchanged, expect Typhoon Loon made a move to pass Party Fowl and move into fourth place. As they crossed the finish line it was Lord Mallard by a beak, ahead of Release the Quacken, Lane Duck, Party Fowl with Typhoon Loon bringing up the rear after Party Fowl’s impressive final surge in the last ten feet.
Thank you to SPU’s own Derek Dugan for the amazing sideline reporting!
The real reason for the race? Fun. The technical reason for the race? Crews were ready to test the 42,000-gallon flushing system that will clean out the tunnel after each use. As sewer overflows are stored in the tunnel during a heavy storm, solids are bound to settle. Once the stored stormwater and wastewater are sent to the West Point Treatment Plant, the tunnel will get flushed out to grab any remaining bits so they won’t get stinky. This will help keep the neighborhoods served by the tunnel odor free and our waterways healthy and safe for all the duckies (plastic and real).
Below are a few project highlights we don’t want you to miss:
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Email updates are monthly As a reminder, project-wide updates will now be sent once a month. If you’re in a neighborhood with active construction, updates will be sent as needed to share information.
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Wrapping up work in Wallingford and Fremont this spring The majority of work in Wallingford and Fremont is expected to wrap up by the end of March, marking another major milestone for the project. There will be equipment testing and staff training in late spring and there may also be minor restoration work into summer. Work will return to the neighborhood in 2027 to make the tunnel operational.
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Ballard construction update Crews have been evaluating and relocating utilities throughout the work area in Ballard. As early as April, you may start to see fences around work areas and large machinery in the neighborhood. We made a video so you could learn more about this portion of the project! You can also find the video on our website’s project library under the “Project videos” section. We will continue to keep the community informed of upcoming construction impacts through this email, the project website, and community-specific emails.
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 and to view a video of the duckie race! Visit our Flickr albums for recent construction photos as well.
Ballard
The Ballard Pump Station and Ballard Conveyance contractor continues work along 24th Ave NW, NW 56th St, and 28th Ave NW. Crews are performing utility evaluation in preparation for the start of Ballard Conveyance construction. The utility evaluation work is scheduled to go through mid-February, with work continuing over the next few weeks.
You should anticipate:
- Parking restrictions along 24th Ave NW, NW 56th St, and 28th Ave NW
- Noise, dust, and vibration typical of a construction site
- Work and equipment will include machines to cut pavement and vacuum trucks for removing dirt
Please watch for equipment and signs in the area. Travel slowly through active construction areas and follow directions from flaggers and signs.
East Ballard
NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW is open along with the Burke Gilman Trail in its original location. Minor restoration work is continuing. Crews will still be in the area and there may be occasional one lane closures with flaggers as work wraps up.
Fremont
Crews continue installing equipment inside the shaft, utilities at the site, and mechanical and electrical systems inside the vault in N 36th St. Crews have also begun site grading and sidewalk restoration on Leary Way NW, N 36th St and 2nd Ave NW.
The contractor is scheduled to pave the sections of 2nd Ave NW and N 36th St within the project site on February 17. This work is weather dependent.
Lane restrictions in Leary Way NW will continue through February.
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 mid-2025
- 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 mid-2025
- 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
N 35th St is currently open to two-way traffic in both directions with normal street parking.
Restoration of N 35th St is targeted to begin the week of February 17 and will continue for approximately 3 weeks. During that period, the westbound only lane of N 35th St will be detoured to N 34th St between Wallingford Ave N and Stone Way N. The paving work is weather dependent. Here is a map of the detour route.
The southern portion of Interlake Ave N at N 35th St remains closed. Local access will remain in effect from N 36th St until final road restoration of N 35th St is complete.
The contractor has replaced several concrete road panels in Interlake Ave N. Sidewalk restoration on the east side of Interlake Ave will begin this week and continue for several weeks.
Within the site at the northeast corner of N 35th St and Interlake Ave N, crews continue to install utilities throughout the site and have begun site grading.
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, 7 am to 6 pm. 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
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 4 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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