WSDOT Projects

Accident Data and Long-term Recommendations

North End of Battery Street Tunnel to N. 50 Street

Identified Problems:

• Posted speed limit is 40 MPH, but many exceed it.
• Sight distance is limited northbound at Halladay St. and southbound before Raye St.
• Aurora Bridge has narrow lanes and sidewalks, and no raised median
• A limited number of pedestrian crossings.
• Curb lane northbound from N. 38th St to N. 50th St. is narrow and does not provide enough width for a larger vehicle to safely pass a vehicle parked at the curb.

Proposed Long-term Improvements with Private Redevelopment

The southern section of SR 99 N. has existing accident and traffic operation problems in three major areas: Raye and Halladay Streets (access to the Queen Anne neighborhood), the Aurora Bridge, and Bridge Way N./ N. 38th Street. The proposed recommendations are summarized below:

• Aloha St. to Dexter Way (pdf 1.4Mb) - In this predominantly limited access section of the corridor, the only substantive change proposed for the existing cross-section is a wider amenity zone (sidewalk and planting strip). However, future high accident locations along this segment of the corridor may be improved if it is determined that roadway improvements would reduce accidents. These improvement upgrades could have right-of-way implications for adjacent properties. The estimated cost for the wider amenity zone along this 1.1-mile section of roadway is $7.1 million and the improvements are shown in Figure 6-1. The cost estimate is in 2002 dollars and estimated at the mid-point of construction (year 2017).
• Halladay St. and Raye St. - Staged reconstruction of Raye and Halladay Street intersections and signalization of nearby intersections.
• Aurora Bridge - Widen existing lanes, add median barrier, construct new pedestrian facilities.
• N. 38th St. Vicinity (pdf 1.3Mb) - Reconstruct N. 38th St intersection geometrics and add traffic signals.Add new acceleration and deceleration lane between N. 38th and 39th streets.
• N. 39th St. to N. 50th St. (pdf 1.3Mb) - Widening of existing lanes
• Queen Anne Access - Reduced accident potential caused by vehicles stopped on the SR 99 through lanes to exit at Raye St. or Halladay St. By eliminating this "stopped" condition and vehicle queues from the Queen Anne Drive / Raye St. / 4th Avenue intersection, the potential for accidents is decreased.