 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.
 Crews demolish old concrete in the University District.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- University District Construction
- Eastlake Construction
- South Lake Union Construction
- Online Drop-In Sessions
University District Construction
NE 43rd St paving
We continue to pave the intersections of 11th Ave NE with NE 43rd St and NE 42nd St. Our work is taking place on one corner of each intersection at a time, and we expect to complete the corners below by the end of next week. Traffic is detoured around the work areas, and we will keep sidewalks accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
 Crews replace the concrete panels at NE 43rd St and 11th Ave NE.
We are working on NE 43rd St and NE 42nd St. Currently, NE 43rd St between 11th Ave NE and 12th Ave NE is closed for paving. This closure will be in place for at least seven more weeks. Crews are also installing a concrete panel in the northeast corner of NE 43rd St and 11th Ave NE. Traffic is detoured around the work, but sidewalks remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.
 Work area at the intersection of 11th Ave NE and NE 43rd St.
As soon as July 11, we will pave the section of NE 43rd St in front of the alley entrances between 11th Ave NE and 12th Ave NE. Residents and businesses can still access the alleys via NE 42nd St and NE 45th St. We will reopen the alleys on the morning of Monday, July 14, before our typical work hours to allow Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to complete trash pickup. Throughout all this work, you can expect noise, dust, and vibrations.
 Partial road closure on NE 42nd St.
NE 42nd St is closed between 11th Ave NE and Roosevelt Way NE for approximately three weeks for utility work. Driveway and alley access remains open from Roosevelt Way NE. This option is also available for UW Medical Center Roosevelt Clinic patient drop-offs.
 Road closed sign on NE 42nd St.
Water outage on NE 42nd St
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a water outage during the day on Saturday, June 28.
SPU crews will shut off the water supply on Saturday, June 28, to replace a water line beneath NE 42nd St and 11th Ave NE. The outage is scheduled between 8 AM and 3 PM. The properties affected are marked in yellow on the map above. Construction vehicles will be on-site, so some noise is expected as we carry out this work.
Following the water outage, we will continue to install new drainage infrastructure in this area, requiring us to keep a portion of NE 42nd St between 11th Ave NE and Roosevelt Way NE closed (see map above). You can expect excavation, noise, and vibrations for up to one week.
Please visit SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage. Our project website also has answers to frequently asked questions about water outages. Check out SPU's Water Outages map for more information on affected properties.
Temporary lights between NE 43rd St and NE Campus Pkwy
 Crews will install temporary lights between NE 43rd St and NE Campus Pkwy.
In the upcoming weeks, crews will start installing temporary lighting in various locations throughout the University District. These lights will illuminate the work areas for our crews and provide nearby residents and businesses with nighttime lighting until the new lighting systems are installed. This work typically has minimal impacts and will involve installing new wooden poles and overhead wiring.
Eastlake Construction
Nighttime paving on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 Crews direct traffic around concrete paving on Eastlake Ave E.
We have started paving the east side of Eastlake Ave E, between Fuhrman Ave E and Harvard Ave E. From 7 PM on Friday, June 27, until 6 AM on Monday, June 30, we will pave the road outside driveways in this area. To reduce disruptions to building parking, we will complete the work during the weekend and at night. We will break up concrete on Friday evening and pour concrete over the weekend. This process involves heavy machinery and demolition, so expect loud noise.
Driveways to nearby businesses and residences will remain closed until Monday morning. We have contacted the affected buildings. A load zone will be available on northbound Harvard Ave E near the intersection of Eastlake Ave E to help with deliveries and drop-offs. As early as July 2, traffic will be redirected to the west side of Eastlake Ave E, maintaining one lane for northbound and one for southbound travel.
All our nighttime activities will follow the City of Seattle’s noise variance requirements. For more information about the City’s noise code, please visit their website.
E Allison St closed between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E
 Closure on E Allison St between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E.
We have closed E Allison St between Eastlake Ave E and Harvard Ave E to install the new water main for about seven weeks. During this time, vehicles cannot turn right from northbound Eastlake Ave E to southbound Harvard Ave N or left from northbound Harvard Ave E to southbound Eastlake Ave E. To access Eastlake Ave E, northbound drivers will need to continue north past the closure and detour using NE 41st St to head back south.
Local access to driveways and alleyways on E Allison St will be available from Harvard Ave E, though crews may temporarily block these areas. We will notify affected properties of any upcoming closures.
Nighttime water outage on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and E Allison St
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a water outage during the night on Thursday, July 10.
Over the next few weeks, we will remove sections of the existing water main on E Allison St to install a new one. Nearby residents and businesses should expect a one-night water outage on Thursday, July 10, from 7:30 PM to 4:30 AM on July 11. The properties affected are marked in yellow on the map above. During this period, noise from saws cutting the current water main will be heard.
Nighttime water outage on Eastlake Ave E between E Newton St and E Blaine St
 The properties highlighted in yellow will experience a water outage during the night on Wednesday, July 2.
Businesses and residents on Eastlake Ave E between E Newton St and E Blaine St can expect a one-night water outage on Wednesday, July 2, as we complete our water main work. The outage will begin at 10 PM and end around 6 AM on Thursday, July 3. The properties affected are marked in yellow on the map above.
Electrical installation at E Galer St and E Garfield St
We continue installing new electrical lines at the intersections of Eastlake Ave N, E Galer St, and E Garfield St. Crews will work overnight from 7 PM on Friday, June 27, until 5 AM on Saturday, June 28. Eastlake Ave E will be one lane alternating during this work. Expect dust, noise, and vibrations during construction. Traffic will be shifted around the work zones. Crews will not be at both intersections at the same time.
We will continue electrical installation on the east side of the E Galer St and Eastlake Ave E intersection during the week of June 30, closing this area to traffic during the day. Afterwards, work will shift to the intersection of E Garfield St and Eastlake Ave E during which the east side will be closed the week of July 7.
South Lake Union Construction
Utility Work on Fairview Ave N between Ward St and Aloha St
Crews continue to install irrigation and electrical lines under Fairview Ave N between Ward St and Aloha St. We will be working at night from 9 PM until 6 AM as early as Monday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 2. This work must be done at night as we tunnel under the streetcar tracks.
Electrical Work at Fairview Ave N and Harrison St
We expect to resume installing electrical lines at the Fairview Ave N and Harrison St intersection on the night of Monday, June 30. To reduce disruptions to traffic and maintain streetcar operations, we will work at night from 7 PM to 5 AM. We will work during the day for the rest of the week, then switch back to working at night during the week of July 7. During this time, please expect pedestrian detours and noise from concrete breaking, excavation, and paving equipment.
Online Drop-In Session
Every Thursday from 2 to 3 PM, residents and business owners have been actively joining our online open house to connect with the project team and have their questions answered. These sessions have been a fantastic way for the community to engage directly, and we’ve received great feedback about how valuable and accessible they are. Whether you want 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
Business Spotlights
Are you a business owner in the University District, Eastlake, or South Lake Union neighborhoods? We’d love to spotlight your business in a future email update! Connect with our team at RapidRide@seattle.gov to learn more about this opportunity.
Access to all businesses will be maintained and prioritized throughout the construction of the RapidRide J Line. We encourage everyone to continue visiting and supporting their favorite neighborhood businesses during this time.
How to Stay Informed
To ensure you're informed of the latest updates and developments on the RapidRide J Line project, we encourage you to sign up for our project emails. This will give you detailed information about construction activities, timelines, and any changes that may affect your neighborhood. 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 initiative. You can sign up for the emails and find more information on our project website. Thank you for your continued support and engagement!
For more information on bus stop relocations during construction, please visit King County Metro’s website.
Contact us
Communications and Outreach Lead
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
|
