 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.
 Bicyclist traveling beside the construction areas at Eastlake Ave E and E Hamlin St.
RapidRide J Line
Here’s what is included in this email update:
- 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.
University District Construction
New electrical wires are being installed in the University District.
We are installing new traffic signals, street lighting, electrical wiring for buses, sidewalks and other features at multiple locations in the University District. If you are driving through the work areas, we will always keep one lane open. If you are using the sidewalk, please follow the signs and directions from crews.
Our work in the coming weeks includes:
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The southeast corner of NE 43rd St and Roosevelt Way NE: Crews are restoring the sidewalk. We anticipate this work to finish by the beginning of April.
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The east side of Roosevelt Way NE between NE 43rd St and NE 42nd St: Crews are continuing to progress south. They will dig trenches, install electrical wiring, and restore the sidewalks. We continue coordinating with businesses and residences to maintain access.
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The northeast corner of NE 42nd St and Roosevelt Way NE: We will continue sidewalk restoration throughout next week.
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The south side of NE 41st St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE and the east corners of NE 41st St and Roosevelt Way NE: We expect to start sidewalk restoration next week. At the same time, we will begin demolishing the northeast corner of NE 41st St and Roosevelt Way NE in preparation to install new electrical utilities.
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 Louisa St
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The west side of Eastlake Ave E between E Garfield St and E Boston St
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The west side of E Blaine St between Eastlake Ave E and Fairview 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
Crews pour new concrete on Eastlake Ave E near E Roanoke St.
Crews will pave the intersection of Fuhrman Ave E and Eastlake Ave E over several weekends. To maintain access through the area, we will complete a different section each weekend. Starting Saturday, March 28, we will demolish the northeast section of the intersection. Crews will pour new street concrete on Sunday and allow it to cure on Monday, March 30.
During this work, flaggers and uniformed police officers will guide traffic through Fuhrman Ave E at the intersection with Eastlake Ave E. We expect to reopen the construction area by the end of the day on Monday.
More information about future weekend work will be provided soon.
Sidewalk work along Eastlake Ave E
Crews are completing several activities along the west sidewalk of Eastlake Ave E.
Between Fuhrman Ave E and E Shelby St, crews are continuing to install foundations for poles that will carry traffic signals and the electrical wires powering the RapidRide J Line. This work includes removing sections of sidewalk, installing underground utilities, and pouring concrete for the new sidewalk and foundation bases.
Between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St, crews have finished building the concrete foundation for the new southbound bus station, and we will restore the sidewalk soon.
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 directions from crews.
Paving work is progressing along Eastlake Ave E
Undeterred by the rain, cyclists travel along Eastlake Ave E each day on sections of new, smoother road surfaces.
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 many areas:
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Between E Shelby St and E Edgar St: We will expect to begin pouring concrete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E as early as next week.
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Between E Edgar St and E Louisa St: We are continuing to pour concrete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E.
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Between E Louisa St and E Lynn St: We will begin demolishing the east side of Eastlake Ave E once we have finished paving between E Edgar St and E Louisa St.
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Between E Boston St and E Howe St: We will continue pouring concrete on the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
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Between E Howe St and E Garfield St: We will finish pouring concrete in the final sections along the west side of Eastlake Ave E.
Crews covering excavated surfaces along Eastlake Ave E during poor weather.
You might notice that it’s taking longer to pour concrete in some areas. Poor weather can delay our work. Crews will check temperatures and conditions each day to make sure it’s the right time to pave.
Traffic is shifted around the construction areas on 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.
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 have begun 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, which is expected to last approximately six weeks.
During this time, we have closed the southbound section of Fairview Ave N between Yale Ave N and Aloha. 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.
Our team is busy widening Fairview Ave N to accommodate transit and to create a mixed-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. Please note that access to all businesses remains open throughout construction.
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. Our work does not impact the Seattle Streetcar.
Scooters, Sidewalks, and Safer Streets Ahead
Community members test out Lime scooters and bikes.
We’ve often heard from business owners and community members about the challenges posed by scooters on sidewalks. As The Seattle Times recently reported, Lime scooters in Seattle are now being equipped with AI technology to deter sidewalk riding—reflecting a growing focus on keeping sidewalks clear and safe for pedestrians.
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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