Although the businesses along this stretch will remain open during the construction, which is expected to continue through Friday, March 19, parking will be blocked off alongside the work zone 24 hours a day through completion. The sidewalk is currently open to pedestrians.

Although the sidewalk is clear for pedestrians to pass through, parking along this stretch will be blocked off until midnight tonight.

The construction is expected to continue for the same hours through Thursday, January 14, “As long as it doesn’t keep raining,” one of the SDOT employees told me this morning. Half of the sidewalk and street parking is blocked off between Boston and McGraw to accommodate the city’s large (and noisy) machines.

And as if that weren’t enough, it looks like City Light is stationed outside Inspire Pilates across the street, tinkering with their new sign.

Although parking may be sparse, both Inspire and the Dispatch are open for business today, so if you have exercise to do and mail to pick up, don’t be intimidated by the loud roar of the big machines, though you may have to park a few blocks down.

Crews will be working until 3 p.m. this afternoon between Blaine and Howe on Queen Anne Ave.

According to one City Light worker, the street lights they are trying to repair have been “out for some time,” and should be working again later today.

Remember to drive cautiously through the work zone.

A new proposal by the Seattle City Council would raise the hourly parking rate by a dollar, from $1.50 to $2.50, in downtown Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods, and 50 to 75 cents in other neighborhoods.  Free parking in Fremont, upper Queen Anne and parts of West Seattle could also come to an end. The proposed hike would raise $13 million of the city’s $19 million budget shortfall, or would it?  Would people stop driving and parking?  Would this hurt business?