 Our RapidRide J Line project upgrade streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, streetlights, and traffic signals. We are also adding protected bike lanes, replacing the water main on Eastlake Ave E, and creating new dedicated bus lanes. To further improve transit efficiency, we’ll provide priority signals for buses throughout the corridor and implement a faster boarding process to reduce impacts on traffic.
These upgrades will balance the needs of people traveling to and between neighborhoods, support our local businesses, and create transportation options for our ever-changing city. They’ll also make it easier for you to access housing and help create safer, more connected neighborhoods for everyone. You can download maps of the final project using this link.
 Cars and people on bikes are shifted to the east side of Eastlake Ave E as we complete paving on the west side.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- University District Construction
- Eastlake Construction
- Fairview Ave N Construction
- King County Metro’s Resources
- 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.
University District Construction
Electrical and sidewalk work in the University District
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 will also begin restoring the sidewalk on the south side of NE 41st St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE as early as next week, after we finish installing new electrical wires.
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.
Bus stop construction at NE 41st St
Project design map for the northbound RapidRide J Line bus stop at NE 41st St and Eastlake Ave NE. You can download maps of the final project using this link.
We are building the northbound RapidRide J Line bus stop at the intersection of NE 41st St and Eastlake Ave NE, near 11th Ave NE. Crews are currently removing the sidewalk and installing new underground electrical wr in the project, we will build a new accessible pedestrian path connecting the bus stop to NE 41st and the University of Washington campus. Throughout this work, we
Eastlake Construction
 The map above shows where we are working in the Eastlake neighborhood.
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. As early as next week, we expect to open the east side of Eastlake Ave E and close the west side 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.
- We have closed E Garfield St on the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
Fuhrman Ave E schedule updates
We have rescheduled paving the east side of the Fuhrman Ave E and Eastlake Ave E intersection until mid-May. More information on future work will be provided soon.
Sidewalk and electrical work along Eastlake Ave E
Crews are finishing sidewalk restoration on the west side of Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St. We expect to reopen this area late next week.
Starting as early as May 4, we’ll begin working on both sides of Eastlake Ave E 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 will involve removing sections of sidewalk, installing underground wires, and pouring concrete. 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 smooth out new concrete on the east side of E Hamlin St and 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 to pour concrete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E. Some areas near driveways may be temporarily paved, as this work will be scheduled for a later date. As early as Tuesday, April 28, we will switch to the west side of Eastlake Ave E and begin demolition.
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The intersection of Eastlake Ave E and E Hamlin St: We will begin demolishing and paving the intersection as early as May 4. More information on traffic impacts will be provided soon.
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Between E Lynn St and E Boston St: We are pouring new concrete on the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
Near Aegis Living, both sides of Eastlake Ave E now have new concrete.
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.
Fairview Ave N Construction
Fairview Ave N widening
The right southbound lane of Fairview Ave N remains closed as crews widen the street.
Crews are continuing to widen the west side of Fairview Ave N between Eastlake Ave E and Valley St. Over the next few weeks, they will demolish the frontage road and pour new concrete. The right southbound lane of Farview Ave N will remain closed during this work.
We will keep the sidewalk on the west side of Fairview Ave N closed. Between Eastlake Ave E and Aloha St, a multi-use path will be provided for pedestrians and cyclists. If you are riding your bike, please dismount and walk through the construction area using this path. South of Aloha St, signage will direct pedestrians and cyclists to use the crosswalk on the east side of Fairview Ave N.
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. During this work, we do not impact the Seattle Streetcar.
Paving work at Fairview Ave N and Aloha St
South Lake Union's Piers and Pours bar crawl takes place this Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25.
We have begun 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.
We are coordinating this weekend's work to avoid major disturbances to the Lake Union Piers and Pours bar crawl. Crews began early today and demolished half of the area. We will pour new concrete over the weekend and fully reopen the area on Monday morning. A flagger will be available around the clock to maintain access for visitors and businesses through the intersection.
We will return to pave the second half of the intersection during a separate weekend.
If you are interested in enjoying great food and views of Lake Union, then please support Fairview's businesses as they open their doors this weekend. For more information, visit South Lake Union's neighborhood website.
King County Metro’s Resources
The Route 70 bus continues to operate on Eastlake Ave E during construction.
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. If you have additional questions about a trip, their call center can be reached at (206) 553-3000 on weekdays between 6 AM and 6 PM.
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
Contact us
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.
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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