The RapidRide J Line project will bring significant improvements to the University District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, and Belltown. These enhancements will make it easier to commute, attend classes at the University of Washington, access medical care, or visit local businesses by creating a more efficient and convenient travel experience across these key areas of the city.
Our focus is on modernizing and maintaining reliable transit connections for Seattle’s growing communities. Upgrades will include improvements to roads, sidewalks, curb ramps, lighting, drainage, and traffic signals. Additionally, we will install protected bike lanes and replace the water main on Eastlake Ave E. These enhancements are essential for supporting local businesses, improving access to housing, and fostering vibrant, connected communities.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- University District Electrical Work
- Nightwork between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
- Southbound Harvard Ave E Closure
- Upcoming Nighttime Water Outage and Work on Eastlake Ave E
- Routing the Tenacious Ten Run Around Construction
- Business Spotlight: Seattle Therapy Skills for Life
- Other Projects Nearby: Work on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge
- Online Drop-In Sessions
University District Electrical Work
Crews preparing electrical conduit.
There's more work to do in the University District before we pave NE 43rd St. Right now, our team is placing electrical wires for signals under NE 43rd St and NE 42nd St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE. We're also finishing up drainage work that will help manage rainwater runoff. You may notice temporary lane closures or sidewalk detours during this work.
Once we wrap up the underground work, our crews will start patching sections of the road with asphalt. This temporary pavement will be replaced with concrete later this spring.
Nightwork between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 Map of the work area on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E.
Starting on March 31, we begin working at night to install a new water main between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E. This adjustment in hours will allow us to better accommodate the increased traffic associated with the University District’s Annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
Our nighttime work will take place from 7 PM to 5 AM. During this time, our crews will need to cut into and break open parts of the road, which will have typical construction impacts such as noise, dust, and vibrations. The high-impact noise will finish before 10 PM to reduce disturbance.
All our nighttime activities will follow the City of Seattle’s noise variance requirements, ensuring we do our part to keep the neighborhood comfortable. For more information on the City’s noise code, please visit this website.
Southbound Harvard Ave E Closure
 A map of the southbound closure on Harvard Ave E between Eastlake Ave E and E Allison St.
Starting on March 31, we will close southbound Harvard Ave E between Eastlake Ave E and Franklin Ave E to install a new water main. This closure will continue over the following weeks. You will still be able to travel northbound on Harvard Ave E, and local access to driveways and residential buildings will still be available during this time. You will also notice that we will reopen E Allison St to traffic in both directions during this detour.
At least one lane will remain open for Eastlake Ave E southbound traffic, and flaggers will safely guide vehicles around the construction. For more information on bus stop relocations during these closures, please visit King County Metro’s website.
Upcoming Nighttime Water Outage and Work on Eastlake Ave E
 The properties highlighted in red will experience a water outage on the night of April 6.
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews will shut off water supply up to three times in the first week of April in preparation to replace the existing 100-year-old water main. The outages will occur at the south end of Eastlake Ave E, between E Newton St and E Nelson Pl.
The first outage is scheduled for Sunday night, April 6, starting at 8 PM and lasting until 4 AM. During this time, our team will cut and cap the old water main. This means isolating sections of the old water main to allow our contractor to begin installing the new water main. This water outage will affect properties on Eastlake Ave E between E Howe St and E Nelson Pl. You can find the affected properties marked in red on the map above.
The following night, Monday, April 7, we’ll have a second outage from 10 PM to 4 AM. We’ll be switching the water supply from the current main to a temporary one and transferring water services for fire hydrants. This second outage will affect properties between E Newton St and E Nelson Pl, which are marked in red on the second map below. SPU's goal is to complete all the planned work by 4 AM. Any remaining work will be completed on April 8.
On Tuesday, April 8, we’ll complete the transfer of services to the temporary water main from 10 PM to 4 AM. This third outage will impact the same properties highlighted on the map from the previous night, shown in red below.
 The properties highlighted in red will experience water outages during the nights of April 7 and 8.
Crews will be working at night during all water outages. We will complete the most impactful work before 10 PM. Construction vehicles will be on-site throughout this process, so some noise is expected as we do this work. Thank you for your understanding!
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us by calling our project hotline at (206) 257-2202 or emailing RapidRide@seattle.gov. We’re here to help!
If you operate an apartment, hotel, or business:
When managing a project of this size, we collaborate with SPU to inform properties affected by major water shutoffs. These notifications are sent before the work and include specific time frames. However, we may need to contact you immediately for smaller shutoffs, connections, or emergencies. Please email RapidRide@seattle.gov with the best contact person for your property, along with their contact information. This way, we can ensure you’re informed promptly. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to improve our community!
 Map of the Tenacious 10 Run route.
The project team is looking forward to Seattle’s Tenacious 10 Run on April 5! The 10k/10-mile run starts at Gas Works Park and takes runners around Lake Union.
This year, we’ve partnered with the event organizers to help keep everyone safe and on track! Runners will be directed down Fairview Ave E, steering clear of our work along Eastlake Ave E. Traffic officers will be there to guide you along the race route.
For everyone’s safety, please make sure to avoid the construction areas and pay attention to all traffic signs and directions.
If you’d like to learn more about staying safe around construction zones, check out the Seattle Public Utilities’ Construction Safety webpage! Have a great race!
Business Spotlight: Seattle Therapy Skills for Life - 2815 Eastlake Ave E
 The gym at Seattle Therapy Skills for Life.
Seattle Therapy - Skills for Life (STS) has served the Seattle community for the past 14 years. Located in the Eastlake neighborhood in an 11,000 sq ft modern and bright campus, they provide occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, feeding therapy, and physical therapy services for individuals aged 2-25 years old. Their knowledgeable clinicians are certified and licensed, providing unmatched wraparound care in the clinic and within the community, such as in the home, school, or at your local coffee shop. STS is where hope begins with feeling understood as children and young adults develop essential skills for a successful and fulfilling life. They welcome you to join STS as they are currently accepting new clients for recurring care and in their upcoming Spring Break Groups, Social Groups, and Summer Camps!
Contact STS today at (206) 322-5433 or office@seattlethera.com for more information. You can also visit their website at www.seattlethera.com.
Are you a business owner in the University District, Eastlake, or South Lake Union neighborhoods? We’d love to spotlight your business in a future email update! Connect with our team at RapidRide@seattle.gov to learn more about this opportunity.
Access to all businesses will be maintained and prioritized throughout the construction of the RapidRide J Line. We encourage everyone to continue visiting and supporting their favorite neighborhood businesses during this time.
Other Projects Nearby: Work on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge
Did you know that there are several other public projects in the RapidRide J Line area? One is the Washington State Department of Transportation’s I-5/Yesler Way to Northgate Vic Project, which is currently working on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge.
To stay informed, check out our interactive Project and Construction Coordination Map! It displays up-to-date information on current and future construction projects in the right-of-way and other events that may impact traffic.
Online Drop-In Sessions
Thank you for stopping by our online drop-in sessions! We enjoy connecting with business owners and community members every week.
You can join us on Thursdays between 2 and 3 PM. Feel free to join our discussion anytime during the hour-long session to ask your questions in the way that makes you most comfortable. You can leave your camera off, type your questions in the chat, or listen as others ask questions about the project.
You can access the online meetings with the details below: Meeting link
Meeting ID: 237 305 138 093
Passcode: mBSfNf
How to Stay Informed
To ensure you're informed of the latest updates and developments on the RapidRide J Line project, we encourage you to sign up for our project emails. This will give you detailed information about construction activities, timelines, and any changes that may affect your neighborhood. Please feel free to share the details of our website and project emails with friends, family, or anyone who might be interested in knowing more about this exciting initiative. You can sign up for the emails and find more information on our project website. Thank you for your continued support and engagement!
Contact us
Communications and Outreach Lead
Need Translation?
For information on our work to upgrade the Route 70 bus route to a RapidRide bus line, in your language, please leave a voicemail in your preferred language at (206) 257-2202
Para obtener información en su idioma sobre nuestro trabajo para convertir la Ruta 70 del autobús a una línea RapidRide, llame al (206) 257-2202
若想通過您的語言了解有關 70 號公車路線升級為快速線 (RapidRide) 的工程資訊，請致電 (206) 257-2202
若想通过您的语言了解有关 70 号公交路线升级为快速线 (RapidRide) 的工程信息，请致电 (206) 257-2202
70번 버스 노선을 RapidRide 노선으로 업그레이드하기 위한 당국의 작업에 대한 정보를 귀하의 언어로 확인하려면 (206) 257‑2202로 전화하십시오
Route للحصول على المعلومات حول عملنا لتطوير مسار الحافلة 70
(206) 257-2022 بلغتك، اتصل بالرق م RapidRide إلى خ ط
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