Update received today from SDOT regarding the Pedestrian Safety Improvements at 3rd Avenue NW, NW 56th Street and NW 55th Place

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Dear Neighbor,

I am writing with news about the project to build pedestrian improvements at NW 55th Place and 3rd Avenue NW as part of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) Neighborhood Street Fund Program.

We finalized the design for this project in late 2014 and I am excited to announce that we will soon begin construction for this work.

As you may know, this project includes the following elements:

• Changing NW 55th Place to one-way southwest-bound
• Creating an all-way stop at the intersection of 3rd Avenue NW and NW 56th Street to improve pedestrian crossing safety
• Separating NW 55th Place from the intersection of 3rd Avenue NW and NW 56th Street
• Adding curb bulbs on the west and east sides of NW 56th Street and 3rd Avenue NW to shorten the length of pedestrian crossings
• Replacing the school zone flashing beacon on 3rd Avenue NW to improve reliability
• Making minor drainage improvements

We will also upgrade the curb ramps at this intersection to be compliant with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This project is funded by the Bridging the Gap (BTG) transportation levy, passed by voters in November 2006 and scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

Construction details
Construction for this project will take approximately 6 weeks to complete, weather depending. We anticipate the work will start as soon as mid-April, depending on the construction sequencing. We are currently experiencing some delays in the contracting process but are continually working to move this project forward. Although the construction details and schedule are not yet finalized, you can expect the following temporary impacts during this work:

• Short-term parking and lane restrictions on NW 56th Street, NW 56th Place and 3rd Avenue NW
• Pedestrian and bicycle detours around the work areas
• Noise, dust and vibration associated with concrete removal and paving
• Typical weekday work hours, 7 AM to 4 PM

Our team is committed to keeping you informed and we will share construction details with you as they become available. Residents and businesses in the area will receive a postcard approximately two weeks prior to the start of work and crews will place “No parking” signs near the work zones 72 hours before construction. You can learn more about the project background and impacts by visiting the project webpage at www.seattle.gov/transportation/WestWoodland.htm.

Please feel free to forward this email to any parties you think will be interested or share this link to sign up for project email updates. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns by responding to this email or calling 206-615-0925.

Thank you for your support in helping improve safety and accessibility on our city’s streets.

Rachel McCaffrey
Outreach Lead

Neighborhood Street Fund Program

www.seattle.gov/transportation/btg_nsf_large.htm