NE 70th Street Overpass to I-5 Improvements Begin
UPDATE: Work at NE 71st Street and 6th Ave NE beginning as soon as Wednesday, March 13
Work at NE 71st Street and 6th Ave NE has been moved forward and will now start as soon as Wednesday, March 13.
The entrance to 6th Ave NE from NE 71st Street will be closed during construction. Vehicles will be detoured to 5th Ave NE. Local access will be maintained via NE 72nd Street. During construction crews will install new stop signs, alter the curbs and curb ramps to bring them into ADA compliance, improve intersection lighting, and begin installing protected bike lanes. After work is completed on the south side of NE 71st Street, the entrance to 6th Ave NE will be reopened, and work will begin on the north side. The north entrance onto 6th Ave NE from NE 71st Street will close during this portion of the project. Vehicles will be detoured onto 5th Ave NE and local access will be maintained via NE 70th St. Work is expected to last 4-6 weeks.
Later in the spring, crews will add new stop signs and stop bars at 8th Ave NE, Brooklyn Ave NE, and 14th Ave NE along NE 70th Street. We will notify you when that work is scheduled to begin. Crews will also paint new bike lanes on both sides of NE 70th Street, altering the parking configuration for the street. As a reminder this includes parking consolidation on the south side of the street between 8th Ave NE and Roosevelt, and no street parking from Roosevelt to 12th Ave NE. For more design details, please visit the design portion of the project’s web page, https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/neighborhood-street-fund-program/projects/ne-70th-st, for a cross section of the new lane layout.
During painting there will be temporary road closures, but they are expected to not last longer than a few hours at any one location. Painting is expected to begin later this spring although road painting is highly dependent on the weather and may begin later. No parking signs will be put up 48 hours prior to construction. Crews will complete the protected bike lane, new curb ramps, and speed humps along NE 70th Street at that time.
What you need to know about construction:
1. Construction hours are on weekdays, 7 am – 5 pm
2. Closures of 6th Ave NE on the south and north side
3. Temporary road, crosswalk, and sidewalk closures
4. Parking and loading restrictions
5. Detoured walking and biking routes
6. Noise, dust, truck activity, and vibration
7. Access to I-5 will be maintained during construction.
Peter Kitchen
Outreach Lead
Neighborhood Street Fund Program
(206) 733-9361
www.seattle.gov/transportation/NSFNE70overpass.htm