The Seattle Department of Transportation will begin intermittent nighttime lane closures on Mercer Street today, Monday, August 29, as part of ongoing work on the Mercer Corridor Project.

The I-5 Mercer Street on and off ramp closure scheduled to take place this weekend, from late Friday night, August 26 to early Monday, August 29, has been canceled. From SDOT:

This cancellation is being made in order to accommodate the many nearby events taking place this weekend which are expected to draw large crowds. The cancellation of this weekend’s scheduled closure will likely result in an extra weekend closure possibly in October.

The next planned full weekend closure of the I-5 Mercer Street on and off ramps is scheduled to take place from 11 p.m. on Friday, September 9 to 5 a.m. on Monday, September 12. From SDOT:

Additional full weekend closures in September may be announced—further notification will be provided as dates are finalized.

Detour route maps are available on the project website at: www.seattle.gov/Transportation/ppmp_mercer.htm. Detour routes shown will be signed on roadways and may be heavily used, particularly Denny Way both eastbound and westbound.

During these closures, the I-5 on-ramp at University Street will be concurrently closed to provide more efficient traffic flow around the closed Mercer Street exit lane. Fairview Avenue N will also be closed between Mercer Street and Valley Street and Mercer Street will be closed to through traffic between Westlake Avenue N and Fairview Avenue N. All detour routes will be clearly marked.

Travelers are encouraged to carpool and use alternate modes of transportation. Transit

information can be found at:

• King County Metro at www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or by calling 206-553-3000
• Sound Transit at www.soundtransit.org
• Community Transit at www.commtrans.org

These recurring weekend closures are part of ongoing work on the Mercer Corridor Project. More information on the project here.

The Seattle Department of Transportation began construction today on the West Thomas Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass Project, which when completed, will unite Lower Queen Anne to Myrtle Edwards Park and connect the neighborhood and its residents directly to the waterfront.

Once completed the bridge will provide a safe crossing over the east side of Elliott Ave W at Thomas Street and the nearby railroad tracks, to Myrtle Edwards Park.

Crews kicked off construction on the east side of Elliott Avenue West, adjusting the construction schedule to accommodate Hempfest’s 20th anniversary festival at Myrtle Edwards this past weekend. Crews will commence construction at Myrtle Edwards beginning after next Monday, August 29.

We got a first look at what the bridge will look like in August of last year. In the same month Seattle City Council unanimously voted to remove spending restrictions on the project, giving SDOT the green light to move forward with the plans. The final project design was completed in January.

SDOT estimates that construction will last anywhere from 10 to 12 months. During that time residents can expect intermittent street closures, traffic detours, reduced parking areas and temporary relocation of the existing bike path at Myrtle Edwards Park. Here’s a little more information from SDOT on what to expect during construction:

During construction pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers should expect the following:

• 3rd Ave West from W. Harrison St. to Elliott Ave W will be closed to through traffic. Local traffic and access to parking garages and lots will be accommodated.
• W Thomas St between Elliott Ave W and 3rd Ave W will be closed to through traffic.  Local traffic and access to parking garages and lots will be accommodated.
• Removal of parking along 3rd Ave W and a portion of W Thomas St both east and west of Elliott Ave W for the duration of the construction project.
• Temporary lane closures on Elliott Avenue West outside the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Temporary sidewalk closures, parking restrictions and pedestrian detours.
• Noise and vibration during certain construction activities.
• Shaft construction is expected to be completed on the east half of the bridge sometime in mid-September at which time equipment will be mobilized to the west of Elliot Ave.

The W Thomas Street Overpass Project is being funded by the Park Levy I and II, Puget Sound Regional Council Grant Funds, King County Grant Funds, and private donations. The total project cost expected to be approximately $10 million. Initial work on the bicycle/pedestrian overpass project began in 2003.

For more information on the project and construction updates, see SDOT’s W Thomas Street Overpass Project website.

The Nickerson/15th Ave W ramp to southbound 15th Ave W (north of W Emerson Street) will be closed for several days this week and next so that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) may relocate a gas line that runs under the intersection. The work is being done in preparation for the final phase of the Ship Canal Trail construction, which is set to begin next month.

PSE will close the Nickerson/15th Avenue W ramp to southbound 15th Avenue W from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning this coming Wednesday, August 24, and continue for up to five days, resuming next Monday, August 29 and Tuesday, August 30 as needed. The roadway will remain open over the weekend.

During this utility work PSE will detour most traffic from W Nickerson Street to W Emerson Street heading east, to access southbound 15th Avenue W. Due to the tight turns, large trucks will be detoured onto westbound W Emerson Street, south along Gilman Avenue W to 20th Avenue W, and then eastbound on W Dravus Street to 15th Avenue W.

Commuters should expect even more lane restrictions along Dexter Ave N on Wednesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 28 of this week – SDOT and its contractor will be repaving the construction ridden thoroughfare between McGraw Street and Garfield on both days, weather permitting.

Crews will begin paving work at 7 a.m. on Wednesday on the west side of McGraw Street, moving south as work progresses. Work should conclude by 5 p.m. each day. From SDOT:

Shortly after paving is complete, temporary traffic markings and striping will be applied.

During working hours one lane in each direction will be maintained.  There may be times when traffic will be reduced to one lane for both directions with flaggers at either end.  Parking and loading zone restrictions will be in place near the work zone and its approaches. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

Also on July 27, Dexter Way North between State Route 99 and Dexter Avenue North will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This project is funded by the “Bridging the Gap” transportation levy approved by Seattle voters in November 2006.

To learn more about the Dexter repaving project, check out SDOT’s project website.

During these closures, the I-5 on-ramp at University Street will be concurrently closed to provide more efficient traffic flow around the closed Mercer Street exit lane. Fairview Avenue N will also be closed between Mercer Street and Valley Street, and Mercer Street will be closed to through traffic between Westlake Avenue N and Fairview Avenue N. All detour routes will be clearly marked.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will be concurrently closing all lanes on SR 520 from 11:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, July 11, between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue. SR 520 from I-5 to Montlake Boulevard will remain open to traffic. Details of the closure and detour maps are available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/WeekendClosures.htm.

Travelers are encouraged to carpool and use alternate modes of transportation. Transit information can be found at:

• King County Metro at www.kingcounty.gov/metro or by calling 206-553-3000
• Sound Transit at www.soundtransit.org
• Community Transit at www.commtrans.org

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will be closing down the I-5 on and off ramps at Mercer Street again this weekend, as part of ongoing work needed as part of the Mercer Corridor Project.

The closure will begin at 11 p.m. on Friday, June 17, and go until 5 a.m. on Monday, June 20. Detour route maps are available here. From SDOT:

Detour routes shown will be signed on roadways and may be heavily used, particularly Denny Way both eastbound and westbound. Travelers are advised to consider alternate routes to their destinations such as SR 99 or alternate I-5 exits and entrances.

After this weekend’s closure, the Mercer Street access to and from I-5 will not be closed again until the weekend of July 8-11, and is scheduled to take place during the same hours. From SDOT:

During these closures, the I-5 on-ramp at University Street will be concurrently closed to provide more efficient traffic flow around the closed Mercer Street exit lane. Fairview Avenue N will also be closed between Mercer Street and Valley Street and Mercer Street will be closed to through traffic between Westlake Avenue N and Fairview Avenue N. All detour routes will be clearly marked to support traffic flow around the closures.

SDOT is advising travelers heading to the Fremont Solstice Parade and Fair to use SR 99 or to the alternate I-5 off-ramps at Olive Way (northbound) or Stewart St. (southbound) and Denny Way to Westlake Ave. N. More information on routes to the Fremont Fair can be found at the fair website.

Travelers are encouraged to carpool and use alternate modes of transportation. Transit information can be found at:

• King County Metro at www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or by calling 206-553-3000
• Sound Transit at www.soundtransit.org
• Community Transit at www.commtrans.org

WSDOT contractors will be doing some work on the Aurora Bridge over the next couple months in an effort to strengthen the bridge’s support and prevent it from damage in the event of an earthquake, all while maintaining its unique aesthetic.

As early as June 11, WSDOT workers will begin an 18-month long project to make the Aurora Bridge better withstand earthquakes. Construction will begin on the Fremont side of the bridge and take about six months to complete, after which crews will move on to work on the Queen Anne side.

For more information on the project and the reason it’s being done, visit the WSDOT site.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) completed the repaving of Dexter Ave N between Fremont and 4th Ave N and McGraw Street on Friday, but construction along the thoroughfare is not quite over yet. A contractor working with SDOT will be continuing construction on bus islands and installing new traffic markers, including buffered bike lanes, along Dexter over the next two weeks in order to stay on track with completing this phase of the project by the end of May.

The second phase of the project, which stretches from McGraw Street to Garfield Street, is scheduled to begin next week and to be completed in early August. From SDOT:

Crews will start with installing an underground storm water detention pipe near Garfield Street and a bio-retention / “rain garden” near Crockett Street. Other work includes repaving the roadway, installing bus islands, adding a buffered bike lane, and making pedestrian improvements.  During this second phase of the project, Garfield Street will be closed for seven days between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

SDOT says drivers should expect lane closures and on-street parking restrictions along Dexter Ave N during this period, though some of the work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled or adjusted as the project progresses. To learn more about the Dexter repaving project, check out SDOT’s project website.

The Department of Planning and Development approved the land use application for the Seattle Center‘s Chihuly glass art exhibit last week.

The exhibit is slated to be built just west of the Space Needle on the site of the Fun Forest pavilion. The plan calls for a glass atrium of about 5,600 square feet to be constructed on the east side of the pavilion, according to the DPD decision. The building will also be renovated to add about 3,350 square feet of floor area for retail and lobby space, and about 250 square feet for an entry vestibule. In addition, a garden and walkways will be constructed in the exhibit’s accompanying outdoor spaces.

This closely follows last month’s approval of a lease agreement to bring the Chihuly glass art exhibit by the Seattle City Council.

The application was approved on the condition that construction activities other than that taking place within enclosed floors will be limited to non-holiday weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to reduce the noise impact of construction on nearby properties.

The environmental impacts of the proposal were previously stated in the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Statement Seattle Center Master Plan released February 17.

Any appeals of this decision must be received by the Hearing Examiner no later than May 19. For instructions on how to appeal a land use decision, visit this DPD web page.

Emerald Bay Equity’s land use application for its Seven Hills Apartments project at 1919 Queen Anne Ave. N. was approved by the Department of Planning and Development last week, giving developers a green light to move forward with the project.

This is the latest development in the long-stalled project since the public design review meeting back in January. The approved land use application for the apartment complex across the street from the Upper Queen Anne Metropolitan Market consists of a four-story structure containing 57 apartments, over 8,180 square feet of ground level retail space, and parking for 68 vehicles to be provided below ground. The existing structures will be demolished.

Seven Hills Apartments is slated to begin construction late June, said Emerald Bay Equity principal Joe Geivett.

This project is one of several in the area by Emerald Bay Equity. Eden Hill, completed in 2007, and the Sweetbrier building, completed in 2009, lay directly to the north of the coming Seven Hills Apartments.

Emerald Bay Equity also submitted a land use application for the the Metropolitan Market redevelopment, the final of four mixed-use projects EBE is managing on the hill, last Thursday. The application calls for a four-story, 112 unit residential building with about 30,000 square feet of retail and parking for 202 vehicles below ground at 1900 Queen Anne Ave. N. Redevelopment for the Metropolitan Market is anticipated to begin in 2012, according to Geivett.

Community members interested in making a public comment on the project or appeal of the DPD’s decision may submit comments to the hearing examiner no later than May 12. All comments must be made in writing and delivered either in person to the hearing examiner’s office on the 40^th floor of Seattle Municipal Tower at 700 Fifth Ave. or by mail to the City of Seattle Hearing Examiner, P.O. Box 94729, Seattle, WA 98124-4729.

Beginning today and for the next six weeks 11th Avenue W between W Nickerson Street and W Ewing Street will go down to one northbound lane so that a contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) may relocate a water line needed before the construction on the final segment of the Ship Canal Trail begins.

From SDOT:

The change along this one block section of 11th Avenue W is necessary for safety reasons, while the roadway is temporarily narrowed. Local access will be allowed.

In March BNSF removed a set of railroad tracks in preparation for this utility relocation.  SDOT’s contractor will now install a new water line and complete earthwork for railroad track relocation.  The contractor will also remove the asphalt driveway, maintaining access with a gravel surface that will be adjusted throughout construction.  Following installation of the water main, BNSF will reinstall mainline tracks closer to the existing spur track.

For more information on the Ship Canal Trail construction project, see SDOT’s project website.

Queen Anne’s John Hay Elementary is going to be the first school in the district to get a brand new ‘green’ heat pump in its facility, which will be fully operational by the fall 2011 school term. As construction on the new heating and ventilation system is beginning this coming Monday, May 2, John Hay would like to inform the community of some of the safety and security concerns, particularly in regards to the playground, throughout the construction period. From John Hay:

1. Beginning May 2^nd, the grassy field will be fenced off as the entire area will be under construction.  Construction crews will be drilling small, 6 inch diameter wells throughout the playfield.  As a result, the grass will be removed and the play area will be unavailable until the spring of 2012 when new grass has been established.
2. The Climber will be available for use during most weeks of the construction project and will be most easily accessible from the main stairway.  During the weeks when drilling and equipment move within closer proximity to the Climber, the Climber will be closed and fenced off.
3. Construction materials will be secured inside the fenced construction area.  However, deliveries will be made beginning at 4:00 in the afternoon.   Delivery trucks will access the site through the main playground gate.  Cones and flags will indicate the afternoons when a delivery is scheduled.  On those days, the playground must be cleared by 4:00 pm.
4. During the months of May and June, construction will begin at 3:00 pm and run until 9:00 pm per city ordinance guidelines.  The immediate neighborhood will be notified of the project through flyers and the district is considering scheduling a neighborhood community meeting during the later weeks of April to provide information.  I will notify parents of this community meeting through the Daily Bulletin.  All interested parties are invited to attend.

If you have any questions or concerns about the project, or simply would like to learn more, contact klhanson1@seattleschools.org.

Though the weather report is predicting rain for the weekend, you never know what Seattle weather will do at the last minute. Whether it ends up being a sunny spring weekend or a cloudy one, for those who feel like roaming around town there are going to be a few areas with of lane closures and traffic congestion to avoid:

The Seattle Department of Transportation is closing the northbound right lane of the Battery Street Tunnel from 10 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 26 while crews perform electrical work on behalf of the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Drivers should expect temporary lane closures on Aurora Ave N on tomorrow. SDOT crews will be repairing the paving along Aurora, between N 47^th and N 48^th streets, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 26.

The Ballard Bridge will also have lane closures throughout the day on Saturday, March 26 to accommodate SDOT crews, who will be grinding down and paving the northbound and southbound lanes at the north end of the bridge (weather permitting). The work will be taking place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and at least one lane will remain open in each direction.

And on Sunday, March 27 the southbound lanes of the Ballard Bridge will be blocked for most of the morning, from 6 to 10 a.m., for a commercial film shoot.

Starting on next week SDOT will be closing the southbound right lanes on the Alaskan Way Viaduct at Jackson Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday from Monday, March 28 to Friday, April 8 so that crews may repair railing that was damaged by accidents, though this work is subject to change in the event of emergency work.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is set to begin repaving Dexter Avenue N this coming Monday, March 7. The project, funded by the “Bridging the Gap” levy, will be implemented in three phases to reduce traffic impact. The repaving project is expected to help ease congestion caused by car, bus and bicyclist overlaps along Dexter from Fourth Avenue North (just south of the Fremont Bridge) to Roy Street, approximately one and a half miles.

• Phase 1 (March to April) – Fremont Avenue N (Fourth Avenue N) to McGraw Street
• Phase 2 (April to July) – McGraw Street to Garfield Street
• Phase 3 (July to September) – Garfield Street to Roy Street

From SDOT:

The project has benefits for everyone who uses the street. In accordance with Mayor Mike McGinn’s Walk, Bike Ride initiative and the city’s Complete Streets policy, the work will include improvements for motor vehicles, pedestrians, public transit, and bicyclists. When completed, Dexter will have wider, buffered bike lanes, dedicated left-turn lanes at busy intersections and in-lane bus stops.  The bus stops will have dedicated bus islands that will improve transit speed and reliability and minimize the conflicts with bikes and stopped buses. There will be dedicated load zones for businesses that need them. Sidewalks, street lighting, and drainage will also be improved.

During construction on-street parking and loading availability will be restricted. Dexter Avenue N will be open throughout construction, however traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. During this time bicycles will have a choice of either merging with vehicle traffic, or riding on Dexter Avenue’s sidewalks, the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, or Westlake Avenue North.

Night work on the SDOT’s Mercer Corridor Project is scheduled to begin tonight. From SDOT:

Nighttime work for Seattle Department of Transportation’s Mercer Street project will begin as early as March 3 and will continue for approximately two weeks. Up to three lanes of Mercer Street will be closed overnight at Ninth Avenue North. This closure is required for the installation of underground utilities. Night work hours will be from approximately 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

For more project information, please see SDOT’s project Web site.

The city is looking for an artist or creative team to develop artwork for the new Fire Station 20 in west Queen Anne. The project is a partnership of the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (DFAS), and the Seattle Fire Department (SFD).

This project is part of a larger program to move the fire station, which was built in 1949 and is one of the oldest un-remodeled stations in the city, from its current location at 3205 13th Ave W, to a new location just a few blocks away at 2816 15th Ave. W. After four years of debate regarding the move, City Council unanimously adopted the measure in October of 2009.

Though the new station, which will be two stories with two engine bays built to current safety standards, is still in the pre-planning stages, the city is moving ahead with the plan. In August the city selected Schacht Aslani as the architect on the project. Schematic designs for the new fire station are expected to drawn up in June 2011, with construction anticipated to begin in 2012, and the final move tentatively scheduled for 2013.

In preparation, the city is looking for an artistic design. From the press release:

The selected artist/artist team will work with the community, firefighters and city of Seattle staff to develop the artwork. The artist will create artwork that will be either integrated into the fire station facility or a site-specific, durable, three-dimensional, free-standing artwork next to the building. The artwork should address the work and spirit of the firefighters and the unique character of the surrounding neighborhood.

Established professional artists living in the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana) or California are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by 11 p.m. on Friday, March 25. The selected artist will receive an all-inclusive commission of $90,000 to design, fabricate and install the artwork on site.

For more information about the project and how to apply, click here. Or contact public art manager Jason Huff at jason.huff@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7278.

Update 2/18/2011 3:10 p.m.: Here is some information from the city about how it will be funding the commissioned artwork for the new fire station:

The new Fire Station 20 is funded by the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy passed by Seattle voters in 2003. Over a nine-year period this program, which started in 2004, will use $197 million in levy proceeds and other funding to upgrade, renovate or replace 32 neighborhood fire stations. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, with DFAS and SFD, developed an art program to commission artworks that address the intersection of firefighters and the community and to form a distinct body of new artworks for the city’s public art collection. Since the passage of the levy, the city has commissioned 11 artists to develop artworks for 10 neighborhood fire stations. Over the next two years, the city will commission artists for two upcoming station projects.

Find more information about the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy and Fire Station 20 at www.seattle.gov/fleetsfacilities/firelevy.

The construction of a suicide prevention fence along the Aurora Bridge has been completed, according to a report by The Seattle Times. City officials and Seattle residents now hope it can prevent more people from joining the list of 230 jumpers who have leapt to their deaths from the bridge to date.

Construction of the 8-foot, 9-inch-tall safety fence started in the fall and cost $5 million, according to a state Department of Transportation news release. The Legislature’s 2009-2011 transportation budget included $3.6 million to build the fence.

The fence’s construction was lobbied for by Fremont residents and those that work underneath it and was supported by the city of Seattle, King County and the state Legislature. Read more about the need for the fence and why it matters here.