 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 move concrete debris on Eastlake Ave E and Fuhrman Ave E.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- Upcoming Work on I-5
- University District Construction
- Eastlake Construction
- Fairview Duct Bank Construction
- Online Drop-In Sessions
Upcoming Work on I-5
WSDOT will begin work on I-5 with a northbound closure on Friday, July 18. Visit their project webpage for more details. Please be prepared for congestion on Eastlake Ave E and plan your route in advance.
University District Construction
We are working on several activities in the area, including:
- Paving on NE 43rd St between 11th and 12th Ave NE and starting roadway construction at NE 43rd St and Roosevelt Way NE for the next few weeks.
- Installing watering systems on NE Campus Parkway between 11th Ave NE and Eastlake Ave E as early as Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25. This work will require closing 11th Ave NE between Eastlake Ave E and NE 41st St. Bus reroutes will also be in place. For more information on stop relocations, please visit King County Metro’s website.
- Building pole foundations on 11th Ave NE from NE 42nd St to NE 43rd St starting July 21 through approximately August 11. This work will require us to remove parking along 11th Ave NE. The temporary northbound University of Washington shuttle bus stop, which was located on 4236 11th Ave NE, will close, and the stop will be relocated back to its original location on NE 43rd St and Roosevelt Way NE. Please see the map below for more details.
 University of Washington shuttle stop on Roosevelt Way NE and NE 43rd St.
The activities in the University District involve heavy machinery and demolition, so expect loud noise. You should also anticipate vibrations and dust.
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.
Eastlake Construction
Paving on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 Paving on the west side of Eastlake Ave E near the University Bridge.
We are paving the west side of Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E. Traffic is shifted onto the new pavement on the east side, and the left turn from northbound Eastlake to Fuhrman will not be permitted.
Paving on Eastlake Ave E between E Galer St/Fairview Ave E and E Garfield St
Traffic will remain on the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
We will begin paving work on the east side of Eastlake Ave E between E Galer St/Fairview Ave E and E Garfield St as early as July 21. During this process, traffic will remain on the west side of Eastlake Ave E, with one lane for northbound and one for southbound travel. After paving the east side of Eastlake Ave E, we will follow the same steps on the west side.
 Crews move debris near E Galer St/Fairview Ave E.
Paving involves heavy machinery and demolition to break up the existing road, so please expect loud noise during this work. Afterwards, crews will pour concrete over a foot deep to create the new street. We will coordinate with businesses and residents in advance of any driveway impacts.
You might have noticed that our crews have been working in these areas for a while. Replacing the water main and paving each block usually takes three to four months to complete. Our team typically spends about three to four weeks replacing the water main. After that, we move on to paving on the west and east sides of the road, which takes another four to six weeks per side. Altogether, please expect at least three months of work once we begin replacing the water main in your area.
Fairview Duct Bank Construction
A duct bank is an underground system designed to organize and protect electrical power cables, communication cables, and other utility lines.
Starting as soon as Tuesday, July 22, we will be constructing a duct bank beneath the road running parallel with Fairview Ave N, between Valley St and Yale Ave N. This work will allow us to increase the width of Fairview Ave N, which will improve transit reliability and accommodate a new mixed-use pathway. The construction process is expected to take up to three months and will require some temporary removal of parking in the area and could reduce lanes on Fairview Ave N. While we understand this may cause inconvenience, the result will enhance the usability and accessibility of this neighborhood.
Online Drop-In Session
Every Thursday 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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