Here’s what is included in this email update: 

• Free Bike and Scooter Helmets!
• University District Construction
• Eastlake Construction
• Fairview Ave N Construction
• How to Stay Informed

We continue to make steady progress on the project. Drainage and water main work on Eastlake Ave E has been completed, and we are now advancing toward finishing the new street surface in 2026.

To complete all of our work on time, you’ll notice us 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 the new concrete to cure. We may also need to work weekends and nights to complete certain activities. 

The west side of Eastlake Ave E, near Armistice Coffee, is being made ready for new concrete as progress continues.   

For National Bike Month, SDOT’s RapidRide J Line team will be giving away free Lime bike and scooter helmets on Wednesday, May 6, from 4 to 6 PM. We’ll be popping up at two spots along Eastlake Ave E: the northwest corner of Eastlake Ave E and E Louisa, and the southwest corner of Eastlake Ave E and Yale Pl E. 

Say hi, ask questions about the project, and pick up some fun giveaways — rumor has it a King County Metro squishy bus might make an appearance. Helmets include fitting instructions and are best suited for adults. Don’t miss it! 

If you can’t make it next week, the RapidRide J Line team will be back in Eastlake on Wednesday, May 13, from 7 AM to 9 AM for Bike Everywhere Day! We’ll join Fred Hutch Cancer Center at their celebration station in the Vessel Traffic Circle off Ward St. While we won’t have any helmets, we will be handing out fun RapidRide swag and answering questions about the project. More information on Bike Everywhere Day celebration stations can be found on Cascade Bicycle Club’s website.  

Crews build the northbound RapidRide J Line bus stop at NE 41st St and Eastlake Ave NE.

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 installing new underground electrical wires for the stop. Later 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 will shift traffic to the west side of the street. Please follow the signs and directions from crews if you are using the sidewalk. 

Crews smooth out new sidewalk concrete near Imperia Lake Union. 

As early as this Friday, May 1, we will begin replacing the sidewalk and installing new accessible pedestrian ramps on the southeast corner of E Galer St and Eastlake Ave E. Later in the month, we will repeat this process on the northeast corner. 

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. It will also require us to close a lane on Eastlake Ave E near the work zone.

For both activities, 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.   

Switching sides as paving work progresses along Eastlake Ave E  

We have switched sides along Eastlake Ave E. You will see us breaking up the old street between E Shelby St and E Edgar St.  

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: 

• Between E Shelby St and E Edgar St: We have started demolition on the west side of Eastlake Ave E. 

• The intersection of Eastlake Ave E and E Hamlin St: Demolition and paving on the west side of the intersection will begin as early as May 4. Crews will work on the northwest and southwest corners at different times. During the day, flaggers will direct traffic through the open corner while work is underway on the other. At night, one lane of E Hamlin St will be closed. Please follow all detour signs.

• Between E Edgar St and Lynn St: As early as May 11, we will begin demolition on the west side of Eastlake Ave E. 

• Between E Lynn St and E Boston St: We are pouring new concrete on the west side of Eastlake Ave E. 
• The intersection of Eastlake Ave E and Yale Pl E: Starting as early as May 4, crews will add texture to the road on the west side of the intersection.

Crews place metal supports before they pour new concrete. 

You may wonder why some road panels near driveway entrances are not complete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E. The reason is that we’ll complete all of these when we shift to sidewalk work. Any driveway closures will be coordinated with property owners and residents ahead of time.

Fairview Ave N widening 

We will close one southbound lane of Fairview Ave N as we widen the west side of Fairview Ave N between Eastlake Ave E and Valley St. We are pouring concrete between Yale Ave N and Valley St; some of these pours will start as early as 4 AM during weekdays and Saturdays. We may work beyond 10 PM at times to make cuts into the new concrete for expansion. Though crews will perform night and weekend work, impactful noise will end before 10 PM. 

The sidewalk on the west side of Fairview Ave N will remain 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.

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.  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. 

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.  

Sincerely,     

Darrell Bulmer    

Communications and Outreach Lead    

RapidRide@seattle.gov | (206) 257-2022