15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project

Construction started July 8, 2024 and will continue through 2025. Please sign up for our project email updates to receive updates on the construction timeline. 

If you travel through the project area or live nearby, you will be affected during construction. We will work to minimize impacts, such as working during specific times of the day and night, so it’s less impactful to commuters and surrounding neighbors. In general, please prepare for the following activities along 15th Ave W/NW: 

• We will close the Ballard Bridge over several weekends for maintenance and preservation work on this 107-year-old bridge.
• We will close the Ballard Bridge for southbound traffic on select weeknights for paving and other work. 
• We will close some lanes and streets temporarily for drivers, so crews have space to work safely.
• We will have temporary detours for vehicles and buses.
• We will close and detour some sidewalks and crossings temporarily for people walking and rolling.
• We will relocate some bus stops temporarily.
• We will change on-street parking temporarily.
• You will hear noise, see dust, and feel vibrations during work hours. 
   
  Please sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information. 

If there are any emergency situations that arise in our project area, please call 911. For all other inquiries that are non-emergency please contact 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 651-3950.

To pave and do maintenance and preservation work on this 107-year old bridge, we will need to close it to traffic over several weekends. We will also close southbound lanes on select weeknights. 

We aim to keep the bridge open for people who bike, walk, and roll during construction, though access points may shift and at times it will be only open on the west or east side. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.  

Please note: All dates can change based on factors such as weather, crew and materials availability, and other possible circumstances. We will communicate any schedule changes with the public.  

The work we’re doing on the bridge needs to be done during warm, dry weather, so we aim to get most of the work done in the early fall, though we may need to close the bridge at other times as well. We know closing the Ballard Bridge is a huge disruption, so we did our best to select dates that did NOT:  

• Overlap with any big events near the project area (e.g., Seafood Fest, the Fremont Solstice Fair, Syttende Mai Parade and Festival)  
•  Overlap with any other major construction near detour routes (e.g., the Fremont Bridge, the Aurora Bridge)  
• Disrupt weekday school and work commutes – all of our closures are scheduled for weekends or weeknights

We expect to keep one side of the Ballard Bridge’s path open to people biking, walking, and rolling though access locations may shift as work takes place. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.  

There may be temporary bus stop relocations during construction. We will do our best to provide notice about any upcoming bus service changes, but we also recommend you sign up for King County Metro’s Rider Alerts to stay up to date on the latest information.

If you are driving when the Ballard Bridge is closed, please use the Aurora Bridge (SR 99). If possible, please walk, bike, or take the bus to reduce traffic.   

Partial Overnight Bridge Closures: Yes, emergency vehicles will be able to cross the Ballard Bridge if needed during partial closures.  

Full Weekend Bridge Closures: No, emergency vehicles will not be able to cross the Ballard Bridge during full closures. We are coordinating with Seattle Fire Department and local hospitals on alternative routes for emergency vehicles during full closures. 

If there are any emergency situations that arise in our project area, please call 911. For all other inquiries that are non-emergency please contact 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 651-3950.  

Yes, boats will still be able to pass under the Ballard Bridge during the closures. 

We are coordinating with other construction projects in the area (e.g., the Route 40 Project) to minimize impacts and doing our best to avoid major lane or bridge closures during big community events. We’ll also be observing traffic patterns and exploring ways to optimize traffic signals.   

We are also encouraging community members to consider exploring different ways to get around. Using alternative modes of transportation will help minimize traffic and congestion around construction areas. Next time you’re planning on driving through a construction zone, think about giving one of these options a try if it works for your travel needs: 

• Flip your trip: Visit Flip Your Trip - Shared Rides - Seattle Traffic to learn about different ways to get around the city. 
• Bus: Visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip.  
• Bicycle: Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seatle By Bike guidebook.  
• Bike and scooter share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page. 
• Walking/Rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination.  
• RideshareOnline: If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.  

In general, while we’re making improvements to our streets and construction continues, we encourage you to consider exploring different ways to get around. Using alternative modes of transportation will help minimize traffic and congestion around construction areas. 

Next time you’re planning to drive through a construction zone, think about giving one of these options a try if it works for your travel needs:  

• Flip your trip: Visit Flip Your Trip - Shared Rides - Seattle Traffic to learn about different ways to get around the city.  
• Bus: Visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip. 
• Bicycle: Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seatle By Bike guidebook. 
• Bike and Scooter Share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page.  
• Walking/Rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination. 
• RideshareOnline: If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.  

Please Note: We aim to keep the bridge open for people who bike, walk, and roll during bridge closures, though access points may shift. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.  

The Ballard Bridge carries more than 50,000 vehicles each weekday and more than 45,000 each weekend day. And during the busiest times, approximately 4,500 vehicles per hour travel across this bridge. On weekdays, the Ballard Bridge is busiest from 7 – 9 AM southbound and from 2 – 7 PM in both directions. Weekend days are consistently busy from 11 AM – 6 PM in both directions.  

Businesses in and around the surrounding project area will be able to remain open and entrances will still be accessible.  We encourage neighbors to continue shopping and using their services. We are committed to work with business owners and staff to address their concerns and potential construction impacts.

15th Ave W/NW is a major roadway serving northwest Seattle. The corridor connects Ballard, Interbay, North Queen Anne, and Magnolia and is a major transit street, serving King County Metro routes 15,17, 18, 40, 44, and the D-line. This section of 15th Ave W/NW includes the Ballard Bridge and provides access to commercial businesses, grocery stores, and residences. 

As part of the Levy to Move Seattle AAC (Arterial and Asphalt and Concrete) Paving Program, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is paving 15th Ave W/NW and the Ballard Bridge Deck between W Emerson St to NW 57th St. The project will restore the road condition of a critical piece of Seattle’s transportation network and contribute to SDOT’s Levy commitment to pave up to 180 lane-miles of arterial streets by 2024. 

It will extend the useful life of one of Seattle's busiest streets and bridges and contribute to a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all road users. As part of Seattle’s freight route, this will also be a major investment in the freight network and serve large trucks, the maritime industrial business, port facilities, and key business needs on this side of town. 

There were multiple opportunities for community members to learn about and provide input on the project design. Our team gave presentations and answered questions at local community events, tabled at neighborhood grocery stores, sent emails, made phone calls, visited businesses and other key stakeholders in the project area, collected responses in a community survey, and sent general email updates to the project listserv.  

In total, we received 900+ responses to our community survey and additional feedback from 40 community members who emailed our project inbox. Most of the people (28) who emailed us requested safety improvements for community members who walk and bike. This includes a collective effort organized by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways. 

We will continue to communicate with neighbors throughout the 15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project area. Outreach activities include calling key stakeholders, delivering project information to nearby businesses and residents, and meeting with neighborhood groups to learn how we can best accommodate travel needs and minimize construction impacts. We also share regular project updates through our project webpage and email updates.  
 
Sign up for project email updates here and continue to visit our project webpage for the most updated information on the project. Our outreach team is also available to address any questions or feedback from the community. You can contact the project team at 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 512-3950. 

We are building safety improvements throughout Seattle in support of our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. The changes to our design are closely aligned with findings from our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review, which showed that reducing lanes on multi-lane arterial roads slows people speeding and makes it safer for people walking and rolling.

The additional improvements also reflect what we heard from neighbors in the area during our project outreach, including requests for a crossing at NW 51st St. 15th Ave W/NW will continue to support freight movement and the changing traffic patterns resulting from waterfront activities.

In response to the community feedback and to support our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets, we have added the following safety enhancements to the project:

• Install a new bike and pedestrian signal and crosswalk at NW 51st St, making it easier to walk, roll, or bike around the neighborhood and connecting people to Ballard businesses, attractions, and transit.
• Replace a southbound lane on 15th Ave NW with a new landscaped median between NW 50th St and NW 54th St to calm driver speeds and reduce the likelihood of serious crashes.
• Improve lighting for people traveling under the bridge along Leary Way
• Install new lighting under the bridge on the pedestrian pathway near the intersection of 15th Ave NW and W Nickerson St

While Seattle’s streets are some of the safest in the United States, we still see more than 10,000 crashes a year, resulting in an average of 28 people losing their lives and 180 people seriously injured. These deaths and injuries are avoidable with the right safety improvements.

Our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review outlines some of the data that is informing the safety improvements we’re building in Ballard and throughout the city. For instance, 93% percent of pedestrian deaths occur on arterials, and 80% percent are on arterials with more than one lane in each direction – such as 15th Ave W/NW. The top contributing factors to pedestrian-involved crashes are high speeds and failure to yield to pedestrians.

Thus, we are making improvements in the project area to reduce driving speeds, increase pedestrian visibility, and make it safer for people to walk, roll, and bike across and along this busy street.

Additionally, the Sound Transit Board announced the preferred alternative for the Ballard Light station is on 15th Ave NW and NW Market St with light rail service scheduled to begin in 2039. These additional improvements will help accommodate the increased number of people who will be walking, rolling, and biking to the new Ballard station. Sound Transit’s Environmental Impact Study estimates that they expect 17,300 daily ridership for the Ballard Station.

We have been in internal conversations on which improvements could be built in coordination with the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project and which could be built at a later time. The additional improvements do not change the project’s goal of repaving the road and installing infrastructure that aligns with Seattle’s Vision Zero commitment.

Leary Way NW is the next signaled crossing south of NW 53rd, which is a fair distance when you are on foot. This often leads to people attempting to cross without a signal or crosswalk, which is not as safe. Ninety-three percent of pedestrian deaths occur on arterials, and 80% percent are on arterials with more than one lane in each direction – such as 15th Ave W/NW. The top factors in pedestrian-involved crashes are high speeds and failure to yield to pedestrians.

Adding another east-west crossing on 15th Ave NW will increase pedestrian visibility and make it safer for people to walk, roll, and bike across this busy street and get to Ballard businesses and attractions. The crossing at NW 51st St also reflects what we heard from community members in the area.

During construction, people driving and moving freight will be affected. We will work to mitigate traffic impacts, such as working during specific times of the day and night, so it’s less impactful to commuters and surrounding neighbors. There will be lane closures for paving and lane restrictions around locations where we are making improvements, so crews have adequate space to complete the work safely.

Once the project is complete, we anticipate that the new pedestrian and bike improvements will have a minimal impact on people driving and moving freight.

The landscaped median will calm traffic by physically narrowing the street, which lowers overall speeds, cuts down on aggressive passing, and reduces the likelihood of drivers to crossing into oncoming traffic. It also creates a landing refuge in the middle of the multilane street for people walking and rolling and reduces the time they spend in traffic lanes. 

We are aware that traffic sometimes backs up in the morning near the Starbucks on 15th Ave NW when people are waiting in the drive-thru line. In 2024, Starbucks added a second container to their property so they could expand their production space. They don’t want people waiting in long lines either, and this expansion will enable their team to fill orders quicker, move people through at a more rapid pace, and alleviate the back-up. We are continuing to coordinate with Starbucks to reduce construction impacts as much as possible.  

In terms of the overall traffic flow, our traffic analysis shows that adding the median will have a minimal impact on travel times. There will still be two southbound general purpose vehicle travel lanes. The new two-lane southbound configuration between NW 54th and NW 51st will be consistent with the same number of southbound general purpose vehicles lanes north of 57th to Crown Hill, and the same number of southbound lanes on the Ballard Bridge. 

Adding the median also has safety benefits as it will calm traffic by physically narrowing the street, which lowers overall speeds, cuts down on aggressive passing, and reduces the likelihood of drivers to crossing into oncoming traffic. It also creates a landing refuge in the middle of the multilane street for people walking and rolling and reduces the time they spend in traffic lanes.  

These safety improvements support of our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. The changes to our design are closely aligned with findings from our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review, which showed that reducing lanes on multi-lane arterial roads slows people speeding and makes it safer for people walking and rolling. 

During active construction, there may be increased traffic on side streets. We will mitigate this as much as possible during construction, such as by scheduling construction during off-peak travel times when possible. 

We do not anticipate the new pedestrian improvements to impact the original project timeline. We work to phase the project in a way that minimizes construction impacts. Please note that schedules are always subject to change due to supply availability and inclement weather.

To improve bike facilities, we would either need to widen the Ballard Bridge or remove driving lanes to widen the bike and walking path. Widening the bridge is a different project that is not a Citywide priority for our current Levy. Removing a travel lane would degrade Rapid Ride and other bus service as traffic backups would greatly increase.  
 
To learn more about our plans for long-term pedestrian and bicycle improvements on the Ballard Bridge, please visit the Ballard Bridge Planning Study and the 2020 Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation System (BIRT).

This project will not replace the bridge. We will be repaving asphalt along 15th Ave W and NW (between NW 57th and W Emerson St) up to the metal grates (bascule) of the bridge. While we complete the repaving of the bridge, we will also include maintenance and repairs to the bridge deck. This will preserve the life of this critical piece of infrastructure and support the safety and mobility for the traveling public.

We are coordinating closely with the following projects to identify detour routes and minimize impacts: 

• Rt 40 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor 
• Revive I-5 
• Rapid J  Line Project 
• Rt 44 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor 
• Ship Canal Water Quality Project 
• Bridge Seismic Retrofit 

In March 2023, the Sound Transit Board announced the preferred alternative for the Ballard Light Rail station is on 15th Ave NW and NW Market St with light rail service scheduled to begin in 2039. Even when we’re attending Sound Transit led events, we are listening to our community, and we heard the need for better pedestrian crossings on 15th Ave NW.  
 
Sound Transit’s Environmental Impact Study estimates that there will 17,300 daily boardings at the Ballard Station. With the new enhancements included in the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project, we will help to accommodate the increased number of people who will be walking, rolling, and biking to the new Ballard station. 
 
In terms of construction, we don’t anticipate any conflicts with the Ballard Link Extension. Our project is expected to be completed in 2025. To learn more about light rail in Ballard, please visit the Ballard Link Extension website.