 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.
 Crews demolish the road on Eastlake Ave E to prepare for new concrete.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- University District Construction
- Eastlake Construction
- South Lake Union Construction
- Online Drop-In Sessions
University District Construction
University District Paving
 Crews smooth out new concrete on 11th Ave NE and NE 42nd St.
We continue to pave the intersections of 11th Ave NE with NE 43rd St and NE 42nd St. Our work will be on one corner of each intersection at a time, with traffic detoured around the work areas shown in the maps below. Each section is expected to take about one week to complete, and we will keep the area accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
 Work area at the intersection of 11th Ave NE and NE 43rd St. Work will begin on June 16.
 Work area at the intersection of 11th Ave NE and NE 42nd St. Work will begin on June 16.
Eastlake Construction
E Allison St closed between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 Closure on E Allison St between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E.
Starting Monday, June 16, we will close E Allison St between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E to install the new water main. This work will take approximately eight weeks to complete as we remove the old water main, replace it, reconnect properties, and repave the road.
During this time, southbound Harvard Ave E and northbound Eastlake Ave E will be reopened. However, vehicles will not be able to turn right from northbound Eastlake Ave E to southbound Harvard Ave N, nor turn left from northbound Harvard Ave E to southbound Eastlake Ave E. To access Eastlake Ave E, northbound drivers will need to continue north past the closure and detour using NE 41st St to head back south. Local access to driveways and alleyways on E Allison St will be permitted, but please be aware that crews may temporarily block these areas as they complete their work.
Water Outage at Eastlake Ave E and Fuhrman Ave E
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a water outage on the night of Thursday, June 19.
As we finish installing the water main at the north end of Eastlake Ave E, several properties between Fuhrman Ave E and E Allison St will experience a water outage on Thursday, June 19. The outage is set to begin at 9 PM and will last until 5 AM on Friday, June 20. During this time, we will reconnect these properties to the new water main. The affected properties are highlighted above.
Nightwork at Eastlake Ave E and Fuhrman Ave E
Crews will install the last section of electrical lines at the intersection of Eastlake Ave E and Fuhrman Ave E as early as June 23. This work will take place at night to minimize impacts on traffic. Please anticipate nighttime noise as crews work.
All our nighttime activities will follow the City of Seattle’s noise variance requirements. For more information about the City’s noise code, please visit their website.
Paving on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
While we finish installing the underground utilities, we have also started paving on the east side of Eastlake Ave E, between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E. This process involves heavy machinery and demolition, so expect loud noise. Traffic will be redirected to the west side of Eastlake Ave E, maintaining one lane for northbound and one for southbound travel. After completing the east side, we will pave the west side using the same steps. Businesses and residents will have access to their driveways, but there may be brief closures while we cross over these areas.
Upcoming Water Outage between E Galer St and E Blaine St
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a water outage on the night of June 14.
SPU crews will turn off the water supply on the night of Saturday, June 14, to connect the new water main under Eastlake Ave E. The outage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM and will continue until 8:30 AM on Sunday, June 15. It will take place at the southern end of Eastlake Ave E, between E Galer St and E Blaine St. The affected properties are highlighted in yellow on the map above.
 Crews place a new water main on Eastlake Ave E.
During this period, we will switch the water from the temporary system to the new main. Crews will work at night to reduce the impact on local businesses and residents. Construction vehicles will be present, which may cause some noise. However, we aim to finish the most disruptive activities before 10 PM.
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a one-time, short water outage during the nighttime on one of these days: June 16, 17, 18, and 20.
After this work, some properties will experience a one-time, brief water outage occurring on one of the following days: June 16, 17, 18, and 20. This outage will take place at night, after business hours. It is expected to last less than an hour as crews reconnect properties to the new water main. The affected properties are highlighted in yellow on the map above. SPU crews will notify the affected properties on the day of the outage.
Electrical installation at E Galer St and E Garfield St
On the nights of June 26 and 27, we will be working on Eastlake Ave E at the intersections of E Galer and E Garfield. Crews will be installing new electrical lines across each intersection. This work will require trenching in the road to access underground utilities, so you can expect to hear construction noise. We will finish the most disruptive activities before 10 PM, and shift traffic around the work areas.
South Lake Union Construction
Upcoming work at Fairview Ave N and Harrison St
We have begun installing underground electrical lines at the intersection of Fairview Ave N and Harrison St during the night. To minimize disruptions to traffic and maintain streetcar operations, we will work from 7 PM to 5 AM. Expect pedestrian detours and noise from concrete breaking, excavation, and paving equipment during construction.
This work will be divided into two phases, each expected to take a week to complete. Once we complete the first week, we will pause work for several weeks before finishing the second week.
Online Drop-In Session
We will not host our online open house next Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. We will resume our regularly scheduled open house the following Thursday, June 26, from 2 to 3 PM.
Residents and business owners have been actively joining our online open house to connect with the project team and have their questions answered. These sessions have been a fantastic way for the community to engage directly, and we’ve received great feedback about how valuable and accessible they are. Whether you want to share your thoughts, ask questions, or simply listen, we encourage everyone to join us and be part of the conversation. Your input truly makes a difference!
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!
For more information on bus stop relocations during construction, please visit King County Metro’s website.
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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