 Crews put the finishing touches on a new sidewalk in the Fremont business district
Hello community members,
Contractor crews are making progress throughout the corridor but know, businesses are still open. You may need to follow some pedestrian detours, but our crews are determined to provide safe and accessible access throughout construction.
Crews are actively working throughout the Fremont neighborhood:
- Sidewalk construction has begun on N 35th St east of Fremont Ave N, starting at the southeast corner and moving east toward A.B. Ernst Park.
- Most heavy construction is expected to wrap up in December, with final paving and striping occurring later when weather conditions allow.
- Additional improvements are underway on N 35th St west of Fremont Ave N, with temporary traffic and pedestrian detours in place. Please note, general traffic can not turn left onto N 35th St from Fremont Ave N. Community members can follow the posted detour to access businesses.
We appreciate your patience as crews move through each block.
Crews are advancing improvements in Ballard, focusing on two new bus stops, sidewalks, and ADA curb ramps:
- Work continues at 15th Ave NW and NW Leary Way This key intersection will have several enhancements including upgraded curb ramps, transit, and sidewalk improvements.
These improvements support safer crossings and more reliable transit access in one of the busiest parts of the corridor.
 Two crewmembers use a sawcutter—or a concrete saw—to begin street upgrades at NW Leary Way and 15th Ave NW.
Clarifying left-turn rules: We have received questions from neighbors about turning movements along this stretch. As a reminder, left turns across double-yellow centerlines are legal, unless signage specifically prohibits them. Double-yellow lines indicate no passing—not a ban on left turns into driveways or local streets.
About bus lanes: If you are driving, please watch for designated bus-only lanes, which help keep service reliable for the 40 and other routes. Bus-only lanes are always marked with clear signs and pavement markings. Drivers should not use these lanes except when making turns or entering/exiting driveways where allowed.
Westlake Ave N & 9th Ave N – New Bus-Only Lane and Traffic Changes
The map below shows traffic changes at the intersection of Westlake Avenue N and 9th Avenue N as part of the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project.
- Area 1 (in red): This section of Westlake Ave N is a new bus-only lane. Buses will use this lane to make a protected left turn onto 9th Ave N from the far-right side of the roadway.
- Area 2 (in black with green dashed line): Crews will be adjusting signal timing and pavement markings in the intersection to accommodate the new bus movement.
What to Expect
- People driving should watch for buses merging into and turning from the far-right lane.
- King County Metro operators will receive specific training to navigate this new lane configuration safely and efficiently.
- Access to nearby businesses, residences, and driveways will remain open throughout the transition.
 Buses will use a special signal to perform this movement, so people driving may see buses perform turns when their signal is "red".
 A rendering shows improvements heading north on Fremont Ave N.
What to expect during construction
- Crews will demolish existing sidewalks and install new, wider sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps.
- Work will involve trenching for underground electrical conduit and concrete paving in some locations.
- Construction will take place along key blocks of Fremont Avenue N, N 36th St, N 35th St, and nearby intersections.
- Sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours will be in place. Please follow posted signs for the safest route.
- Some driveways and business access points may be temporarily impacted. Crews will coordinate closely with property owners to maintain access whenever possible.
- Noise, dust, and construction equipment will be present during work hours.
Why this work matters
- New sidewalks and curb ramps will create safer, more accessible connections for everyone traveling in Fremont.
- Utility upgrades will support better lighting, signals, and future improvements along the corridor.
- These investments are part of a broader effort to improve reliability, safety, and comfort on Route 40 — one of Metro’s busiest bus routes.
To learn more about anticipated construction impacts, read the types of construction activities involved in this work.
 Koleto Wellness Group is a small massage practice in the heart of Fremont founded by Katrina Koleto in 2013. Her approach is a blend of many different styles of massage, including slow deep-tissue and myofascial work (to really get the knots out), soothing and nourishing Swedish massage techniques, gentle Craniosacral holds (designed to calm the nervous system), cupping therapy to release stuck tissues, and more-- all with an emphasis on structural alignment for decreased discomfort and increased mobility. Clients also have the option of adding hot stones and/or topical pain relief creams to each session. Katrina brings a body-positive, trauma-informed, trans-inclusive, and non-ableist attitude to her work. In her words, "There is no wrong way to have a body!"
If you own or manage a business in Fremont or Westlake Ave near the project corridor and would like to be featured, please email us at Route40@seattle.gov and send us a short description and picture of your business.
Every Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:00 AM, residents and business owners have the opportunity to actively participate in our online open house for Route 40. These sessions provide an opportunity to connect directly with the project team, ask questions, share comments, or simply listen. They are a valuable way for the community to stay informed and engaged throughout the project. We encourage everyone to join us and be part of the conversation—your input is important and helps shape the project’s success!
You can access the online meetings with the details below: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83530373889
Route 40 has over 8,500 average weekday daily boardings (Fall 2024) - an 11% increase from Fall 2023. It is the fifth (5th) highest ridership route in the Metro network.
In addition to the 5-10% transit travel time savings, 14-17% in Ballard to Downtown, the Route 40 project will maintain and modernize vital infrastructure
- Temporary lane reductions
- Temporary driveway closures
- Temporary bus stop closures
- Temporary parking restrictions
- Temporary sidewalk detours
- Temporary storage of construction supplies in the street
- Temporary noise, dust and vibrations
- Bus stop relocations
- Drainage work: This involves digging trenches to help manage water flow
- Signal pole foundation excavation: This work involves digging for the pole foundations prior to when we order custom signal poles which takes a while to build and to make sure we know there are no underground obstructions
- Trenching for conduit: This involves digging trenches to lay down pipes or cables underground
- Sidewalk curb bulb out: This involves making the curbs stick outward for safety or accessibility
- Mill and fill overlay: This is when the top layer of the road gets removed and replaced with new asphalt
The construction timeline is always subject to change depending on weather conditions and materials availability. We are committed to keeping you informed and maintaining open communication throughout the remainder of this project.To learn more about the project and designs, visit our online open house.
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Phone: (206) 775-8731 (leave a voicemail and we will return your call)
Our project team is in close coordination with the following projects. Please visit their project webpage to see the latest update:
If you need this information translated, please call 206-775-8731.
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اذا تريد ترجمة هذه المعلومات, يرجى الاتصال برقم
206-775-8731
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us at Route40@seattle.gov
Sincerely,
Jules Posadas
Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project
(206) 775-8731
Route40@seattle.gov
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