 A before and after comparison of the roadway improvements on Fremont Ave N. Picture: SDOT
Hello community members,
The holiday season is quickly approaching. Contractor crews are making progress throughout the corridor. Businesses are still open. You may need to follow some pedestrian detours, but our crews are determined to provide safe and accessible access.
Construction Updates: Fremont, Westlake, Ballard, and North Seattle
Crews are actively working on N 35th St and Fremont Ave N:
- Construction continues on N 35th St between Evanston Ave N and Fremont Ave N. The street is closed to through traffic. Business owners and community members are able to access these locations by following pedestrian detours.
- The street closure on N 35th St between Fremont Ave N and Evanston Ave N will continue into early December due to inclement weather.
- As soon as December 1, N 35th St between Fremont Ave N and Troll Ave N will be reduced to one lane to complete roadway paving work on N 35th St. Eastbound and westbound traffic will be directed by a flagger during construction work hours. During non-working hours, N 35th St between Fremont Ave N and Troll Ave N will be closed to westbound traffic. Please follow posted detours.
 An informational A-frame sits at the intersection of Fremont Ave N and N 34th St just north of the Fremont bridge looking northbound. Two Route 40 buses travel on Fremont Ave N. Image: SDOT
Crews are advancing improvements in Ballard, focusing on bus stop upgrades, sidewalks, and ADA curb ramps. Work continues at 15th Ave NW and Leary Way NW. This key intersection will have several enhancements including upgraded curb ramps and sidewalk improvements. These improvements support safer crossings and more reliable transit access in one of the busiest parts of the corridor.
 Crews continue to excavate Leary Way NW near the intersection of 15th Ave NW in preparation for new roadway panels.
Crews will be returning soon to complete installation of bus stop infrastructure and to finish the remaining sidewalk work.
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 Route 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.
The new signal on Westlake Ave N and 9th Ave N is now operational.
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.
 Sfingiday, a small woman-owned business founded in 2018 in Fremont, is located in the Rocket Building on N 35th St and Evanston Ave N. We work with hundreds of local, regional, and national makers, and we invite you to visit us this holiday season. We are known for our ceramic collection, and we also offer jewelry, fine art prints and originals, goodies for kids and pets, and a variety of other household items. It takes a village, and we are enormously grateful for your support during the construction projects we are currently navigating.
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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