 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. You can download maps of the final project using this link.
 Crews pour new concrete at the intersection of Eastlake Ave E and E Blaine St.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- Construction Alert: South Lake Union Streetcar Line Closed April 18 to 19
- University District Construction
- Eastlake Construction
- Fairview Ave N Construction
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Scooters, Sidewalks, and Safer Streets Ahead
- How to Stay Informed
We are working in many locations at once. Our work involves heavy machinery, loud noises, vibrations, and dust. We usually work from 7 AM to 5 PM, but we may start as early as 4 AM to allow enough time for new concrete to cure. We may also need to work weekends and nights to complete certain activities.
Construction Alert: South Lake Union Streetcar Line Closed April 18 to 19
On Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, we will be working on Fairview Ave N to update the power supply to the South Lake Union Streetcar. This work will require us to temporarily close service to the South Lake Union Line.
Alternative transit options during the streetcar closure
King County Metro operates frequently on bus routes connecting South Lake Union and Downtown Seattle. Please visit their route websites for more information.
University District Construction
Electrical and sidewalk work in the University District
 Crews install new sidewalks on the east side of Roosevelt Way NE. Traffic is shifted to the west side.
Crews are continuing electrical and sidewalk work on the east side of Roosevelt Way NE between NE 43rd St and NE 41st St. They are digging trenches, installing electrical conduits and wiring, and restoring the sidewalks. We are coordinating with businesses and residents to maintain access. If you are driving through the work zones, one lane will remain open. If you are using the sidewalk, please follow the signs and directions from crews.
Eastlake Construction
 The map above shows where we are working in the Eastlake neighborhood. Click here to download a larger PDF of this map.
Street closures in Eastlake
As seen in the map above, we have closed several areas in Eastlake for equipment staging and construction activities. This allows us to complete our work quickly and safely. The areas experiencing closures include:
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The east side of Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St
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The east side of Eastlake Ave E between E Shelby St and E Roanoke St
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The west side of Eastlake Ave E between E Lynn St and E Boston St
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The entrance to the west side of E Boston St from Eastlake Ave E
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We have reopened the eastbound lane of E Garfield St. The westbound lane remains closed to traffic.
Street paving on Fuhrman Ave E
Barriers create temporary pathways for people walking or riding bikes near the construction areas on Eastlake Ave E.
Upcoming Weekend Paving Work at Fuhrman Ave E & Eastlake Ave E
Crews will be paving the intersection of Fuhrman Ave E and Eastlake Ave E over several weekends. To maintain access, we focus on a different section each weekend.
What to Expect This Weekend:
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Saturday, April 11: Crews will demolish the northeast portion of the intersection.
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Sunday, April 12: New concrete will be poured.
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Monday, April 13: Concrete will cure throughout the day.
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Flaggers and uniformed police officers will guide vehicles through the intersection.
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Expect delays through Monday, April 13 — please plan extra travel time.
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Additional traffic control measures will be in place on Monday morning to help keep traffic moving.
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the intersection!
While we typically schedule intersection work outside peak travel times, there are several reasons why work at Fuhrman Ave E and Eastlake Ave E extends into Monday. First, work in this area requires King County Metro to temporarily deactivate the overhead electrical wires that power buses, which they can only do on weekends. As a result, we cannot start demolition work until Saturday and then pour concrete on Sunday. Second, the concrete requires approximately 24 hours to cure, so after we pour it on Sunday, the area must remain closed through Monday until it is ready for supporting traffic. Although you may not see active construction, the roadway segments with new concrete must remain closed. We expect to reopen the intersection by the end of the day on Monday.
We expect to begin paving the south side of the intersection at the end of the month. More information about future weekend work will be provided soon.
Sidewalk work along Eastlake Ave E
Crews pour new concrete curbs near the intersection of Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E.
Crews are building new sidewalks and foundations for bus stations on the west side of Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St. We expect to finish this work in several weeks. Starting as early as April 20, we’ll begin working between E Lynn St and E Galer St to install foundations for poles that will support traffic signals and the electrical wires powering the RapidRide J Line.
This work involves removing sections of sidewalk, installing underground utilities, and pouring concrete for the new sidewalk and foundation bases.
To complete these activities safely, we will need to temporarily close sections of sidewalk and direct pedestrians and people on bikes around the work areas or to the opposite side of the street. Please follow all signs and instructions from crews.
Paving work is progressing along Eastlake Ave E
Crews pour new concrete in sections on Eastlake Ave E.
We are making significant progress building a new, smooth, long-lasting concrete street along Eastlake Ave E. Our crews are actively demolishing, preparing, and pouring new concrete in several areas:
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Between E Shelby St and E Roanoke St: We are continuing the pour concrete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E.
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Between E Lynn St and E Boston St: We have begun demolishing the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
We’ll continue coordinating with property owners and residents to maintain driveway access and schedule closures. Traffic in both directions will be shifted to the opposite side of the street from where the crews are working.
 New concrete section on Eastlake Ave E.
Fairview Ave N Construction
Fairview Ave N southbound closure between Yale Ave N and Aloha St
 Southbound Fairview Ave N traffic detours onto Eastlake Ave E. Local access remains available. Click here to download a larger PDF of this map.
Crews are widening Fairview Ave N between Yale Ave N and Aloha St. This work will create additional space to support transit operations and make room for a new mixed-use path. You can expect noise, dust, and vibrations throughout this work.
During this time, we have closed the southbound section of Fairview Ave N between Yale Ave N and Aloha St. As shown in the map above, southbound traffic is detoured onto Eastlake Ave E toward Republican St. Local access along the southbound lanes of Fairview Ave N is maintained for businesses and visitors, but the closure begins at Yale Ave N. We will maintain at least one northbound lane on Fairview Ave N. Please follow all signs and directions from crews.
 A path for pedestrians and people on bikes is provided on Fairview Ave N.
We have closed the sidewalk near our work area. Starting at Yale Ave N, a path runs along the west side of Fairview Ave N. If you are riding your bike, please dismount and walk through the construction area using this path.
As we work on Fairview Ave N, some King County Metro bus stops may be impacted. We encourage you to visit their website and the Route 70 page for more information.
Paving work at Fairview Ave N and Aloha St
Starting as early as Friday, April 17, crews will begin paving the west side of the Fairview Ave N and Aloha St intersection. This work will occur over two weekends, with crews paving one half of the area at a time to maintain access to businesses and the frontage road.
During the first weekend, from April 17 through April 20, crews will demolish the street on Friday, pour new concrete over the weekend, and fully reopen the area on Monday morning. A flagger will be available around the clock to help traffic through the intersection.
More information about future weekend work will be provided soon.
Scooters, Sidewalks, and Safer Streets Ahead
A person on a scooter traveling through the intersection of Eastlake Ave E and E Lynn St.
The RapidRide J Line project will further support this effort by adding new bike lanes, providing a safe and dedicated space for scooters and bikes. These improvements will help people move safely between neighborhoods, whether they’re visiting local businesses, commuting to work, heading to UW classes, or simply enjoying the city.
By creating better infrastructure for all modes of transportation, the J Line will not only enhance safety but also improve connectivity, making it easier for everyone to get where they need to go—without impacting the walkability that makes Seattle’s neighborhoods so vibrant.
How to Stay Informed
Project Emails and Website
If you’re receiving this newsletter in your email, then you’ve signed up for our weekly project emails! This is one of the best ways to stay informed about the latest updates and developments on the RapidRide J Line Project. We provide information about construction activities, timelines, and any changes affecting your neighborhood. We also include these updates and additional information on our project website every week. 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 project.
Weekly Online Open House
Every Thursday from 2 to 3 PM, residents and business owners have joined our online open house to connect with the project team and have their questions answered. You can join these meetings 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
The RapidRide J Line Hotline and Email
Our team is committed to keeping the community informed throughout the project. If you have any questions about our work, please feel free to email RapidRide@seattle.gov or call (206) 257-2202. We work directly with the contractor and our project partners to get your questions answered.
King County Metro’s Resources
King County Metro is responsible for maintaining Route 70 and other Metro buses during the RapidRide J Line’s construction. They handle all topics related to bus stops, signage, and associated notifications. For information on bus stop relocations during construction, we encourage you to visit their website, the Route 70 page, and sign up for Transit Alerts. You can also use Google Maps, which will post King County Metro’s rider alerts.
Contact us
Communications and Outreach Lead
RapidRide@seattle.gov | (206) 257-2022
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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