Overview
WSDOT, King County and the City of Seattle have developed strategies to keep people and goods moving during construction of the Moving Forward projects, the largest of which is in the south end of the viaduct between S. Holgate Street and S. King Street. These plans include:
- Variable speed signs and travel time signs on I-5 to help maximize safety and traffic flow.
- Funding for SR 519 Phase 2 to improve connections from I-5 and I-90 to the waterfront.
- Funding for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, which includes a new Fourth Avenue S. off-ramp for West Seattle commuters.
- Added buses and bus service in the West Seattle, Ballard/Uptown and Aurora Avenue corridors during the construction period, as well as a bus travel time monitoring system.
- Upgraded traffic signals and driver information signs for the Denny Way, Elliott Avenue W./15th Avenue W., south of downtown, and West Seattle corridors to support transit and traffic flow.
- Information about travel alternatives and incentives to encourage use of transit, carpool and vanpool programs.
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We are working closely with local transit agencies to provide increased bus service. |
The state’s contribution of $125 million will be combined with $335 million in federal and local funding to result in $460 million of investment in the I-5, downtown, SODO, West Seattle, Uptown, Ballard and Aurora Avenue travel corridors. The project table (pdf 70 kb) lists all of the transit enhancements and other improvements, while the project map (pdf 489 kb) depicts where these improvements will be located.
Why are we pursuing these projects?
Replacing the south end of the viaduct will be a significant construction project starting in 2009. Other Moving Forward projects will also affect Seattle drivers. Transit enhancements and other improvements to our street system will play a major role in keeping people and goods moving during construction. These improvements will remain useful to travelers during replacement of the viaduct’s central waterfront section.
Many of these projects build upon work already underway by King County and the City of Seattle to fully fund critical projects and advance elements of Metro RapidRide services.
The end result
These projects are designed to increase transit options, shift traffic away from construction areas, and provide drivers with the information they need to choose less congested routes.
Updated January 2009