 Our RapidRide J Line project will make it easier and more convenient for you to get around the University District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, and Belltown. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to class at the University of Washington, visiting the doctor, or shopping at local businesses, these upgrades will help you travel faster and more reliably.
As part of the project, we’ll upgrade streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, streetlights, and traffic signals. We’ll also add protected bike lanes and replace the water main on Eastlake Ave E. These upgrades will support our local businesses, make it easier for you to get to housing, and help create safer, more connected neighborhoods for everyone.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- University District Road Paving
- Where Work is Busiest
- Online Drop-In Sessions
University District Road Paving
 Crews will begin paving on NE 43rd St. One lane on Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE will be maintained.
We will begin paving on NE 43rd St in the University District as early as April 30. We expect that paving work will take about 2 months to complete. During this time, crews will work on NE 43rd St between Roosevelt Way NE and 2th Ave NE. We will fully demolish and replace the existing roadway with new concrete.
Work will take place in multiple phases. First, crews will demolish and repave the block of NE 43rd St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE (see map above). Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE will be reduced to one lane when work progresses to the intersection. We will shift the single lane of traffic to the west side of the intersection while we pave the east side of the intersection. Once complete, traffic will be shifted to the east side of the intersection while we pave the west side.
Later in May, crews will repeat a similar process on the block of NE 43rd St between 11th Ave NE and 12th Ave NE.
You can anticipate typical construction impacts, such as noise, dust, and vibrations. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout construction. People biking southbound on Roosevelt Way NE will need to merge onto the sidewalk at the intersection of NE 43rd St and Roosevelt Way NE.
Where Work is Busiest
RapidRide J Line crews are active in various locations throughout the University District and Eastlake neighborhoods. Below is a brief overview of our current construction activities. For more information, please email us at RapidRide@seattle.gov or call (206) 257-2202.
Installing Electrical Cables in the University District
Underground electrical cable installation continues at several locations south of NE 43rd St, between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE. Periodic sidewalk detours may be needed for this work.
Water main work between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 A map of the full closure on Harvard Ave E between Eastlake Ave E and E Allison St.
Harvard Ave E is closed between Eastlake Ave E and E Allison St to install a new water main. Local access to driveways and residential buildings remains available. During this detour, Eastlake Ave E and E Allison St are reopened for traffic in both directions.
 Person on a bike traveling past the water main construction on Eastlake Ave E.
If you are traveling by car or bike south from the University Bridge and want to access businesses on the east side of Eastlake Ave E, we recommend taking a detour down Fuhrman Ave E and returning using the northbound lane of Eastlake Ave E. This route allows you to access business parking garages.
Stormwater Work on E Lynn St, E Boston St, E Newton St, E Howe St, and E Blaine St
Parts of E Lynn St, E Boston St, E Newton St, E Howe St, and E Blaine St will temporarily close to install new drainage systems. Each closure is expected to last about one to two weeks, and we will not close consecutive roads. During these closures, access for residents and businesses will remain open. Traffic on Eastlake Ave E will be redirected to the west side during the work.
Please be aware that the dates below may change depending on construction progress.
Approximate closure start dates:
E Lynn St: April 24
E Newton St: May 2
E Howe St: April 28
E Blaine St: April 17
Maps of closure areas:
Map of closure near E Lynn St.
Map of closures on E Boston St and E Newton St.
Map of closure on E Howe St.
 Map of closure on E Blaine St.
Water main work from E Galer St to E Blaine St
We continue to work on replacing Seattle Public Utilities’ 100-year-old water main on Eastlake Ave E from E Galer St to E Blaine St. Crews will dig trenches to remove the old water main and install a new one. Please expect lane closures as we direct traffic around the work zone.
Utility work between Yale Ave N and E Aloha St
Crews continue to upgrade the stormwater system on Fairview Ave E, between Yale Ave N and E Aloha St. This work requires crews to periodically close the frontage road along Fairview Ave N as well as the southbound right lane.
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
Business Spotlights
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.
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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