Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts

175th tests Shoreline’s commitment to bike lanes and tree preservation

Saturday, April 20, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

This is the second article of four covering comments from the city council about Shoreline’s proposed Transportation Improvement Plan that was reviewed on April 15.


A map from the WSDOT crash data portal shows ten years
of fatal and serious injury collisions along 175th 

According to data from WSDOT, in the past ten years, there have been eleven serious injury crashes and one fatal crash along 175th street, making it one of Shoreline’s most dangerous roads.

The transportation improvement plan lists two very different projects for 175th street - one on the east side of I-5 and one on the west.

The proposed safety changes on the east side would put 175th between 5th and 15th on a road diet - narrowing the four-lane road to three while adding bike lanes without widening the road (or removing trees). The east side project is unfunded and could cost an estimated $2.3 million.

The west side projects would widen the road to add more capacity for vehicles, mitigate earthquake risks and make room for shared use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists. The west side portion is partially funded, has a projected cost of over $88 million and will require the removal of 274 trees.

A screen shot shows Council member Annette Ademasu saying, “I would like to see options where we can see reduced width sidewalks”

Councilmember Annette Ademasu told city engineers to provide options with narrower sidewalks. “I would like to see options where we can see reduced width sidewalks and have less impervious surfaces and be able to save more trees and go around trees,“ she said.

Ademasu also indicated she prefers continuing to keep 175th bike-free. “I really like how you’re doing the bike corridors on the slower paced roads because that will help with bike safety,” she said.

Bike lanes on 175th have been part of Shoreline’s Bike Plan since at least 2011 and the new Transportation Element of Shoreline’s Comprehensive Plan envisions protected biked lanes that would be safe enough for children to ride on.

A screen shot shows Council member Keith Scully saying, “what compromises can we make in order to save trees? And the test for me is 175th.”

Councilmember Keith Scully told city staff, “so instead of saying: ‘how wide do we need it to move pedestrians most efficiently? How protected does the bike lane need to be for maximum safety?’… Let’s start by saying what sacrifices can we make, what compromises can we make in order to save trees. And the test for me is 175th.“
An aerial view shows the 175th and Meridian intersection, the location of phase-one of the 175th corridor project and the site where a collapse could be caused by an earthquake 

The 175th project will be completed in phases starting with phase one which includes seismic mitigations and improvements to the intersection of 175th and Meridian Ave.

The city says an earthquake could cause portions of 175th street adjacent to Ronald Bog to collapse and has applied for grants to pay for the mitigations.

Scully and Ademasu worked together to bring the 175th street project back for discussion again at the June 3rd city council meeting.


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Ramps to close overnight Sunday near Aurora Village for pavement repair

Crews sealed cracks and made pavement repairs along the northbound I-405 off-ramp to Totem Lake Boulevard Wednesday, April 17, in Kirkland. This week, they'll work on two ramps in Edmonds. Photo courtesy WSDOT

WSDOT will close two ramps between Aurora (SR 99) and N 205th/SW244/SR104 next week to seal cracks and repair pavement. The location is just north of Aurora Village.

Contractor crews will close:
  • The eastbound SR 104 ramp to southbound SR 99 from 9pm Sunday, April 21, to 5am Monday, April 22. A signed detour will guide people around the closure using eastbound SR 104 to westbound 244th Street Southwest.
  • The southbound SR 99 ramp to eastbound SR 104 from 10pm Monday, April 22, to 5am Tuesday, April 23. A signed detour will guide people around the closure using southbound SR 99 to eastbound 244th Street Southwest.
All work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled. The pavement repairs will create a smoother ride and extend the lifespan of the pavement.


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Dates changed for closure on 145th from 3rd to 8th


The waterline work scheduled for 145th from 3rd to 8th NE has been pushed out a week.

The new date for this work is Sunday, April 28 through Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The work will be done at night from 9pm to 5am the following morning. 
 
The street will be restricted just east of 5th Ave NE on NE 145th St. 
 
Drivers should expect delays and uniformed police officers flagging the intersection of 5th Ave NE and NE 145th St. 

It will be noisy and may disrupt bus routes. Check the King County Metro website for details. 

Contact Outreach specialist: c-jaybee.ragudo@soundtransit.org or 206-701-1469 

Other area projects:

The City of Shoreline is working on Phase 1 of the 145th Street Corridor Project. This work is a seven-month closure of NE 145th Street between the southbound I-5 ramps and 1st Avenue NE.
For more information, visit: engage.shorelinewa.gov/145corridor



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Intersection closure at N 175th Street and Fremont Ave N all day Saturday April 20, 2024

Intersection closure at N 175th St and Fremont Ave N Saturday 4/20/2024

In the interest of public safety, we want to inform you about an upcoming intersection closure at N 175th Street and Fremont Ave N. A recent inspection revealed a deteriorating wood signal pole, requiring urgent repair.

Date: Saturday, April 20th
Time: Closure starts between 7-8am, lasting up to 12 hours

Thank you for helping us prioritize safety in our community!

--City of Shoreline


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Additional lane closures on 145th - night time only - from 3rd to 8th - two weeks

Thursday, April 18, 2024


Nightly lane restrictions on eastbound and westbound NE 145th St (WA-523) from 3rd Ave NE to 8th Ave NE. The street will be restricted just east of 5th Ave NE. This work will happen at night to minimize traffic and community disruptions.
  • Sunday, April 21, through Thursday, April 25, from 9pm to 5am the following mornings.
  • Sunday, April 28, through Thursday, May 2, from 9pm to 5am the following mornings.
Sound Transit will perform waterline work causing nighttime lane restrictions on NE 145th St (WA-523) 

Drivers should expect delays and uniformed police officers flagging the intersection of 5th Ave NE and NE 145th St.

Residents should expect construction noise from equipment such as a vacuum truck, an excavator, a loader, a concrete saw, a concrete truck, light plants, and various hand tools.

Some bus routes may be affected. Please check the King County Metro website for details.

More project info here

Outreach Specialist: c-jaybee.ragudo@soundtransit.org or 206-701-1469


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Lake Forest Park moves to slow speed limits across city

An illustration from the Lake Forest Park speed study illustrates
why lower speeds are safer for pedestrians 

By Oliver Moffat

For more than two years, the city of Lake Forest Park has been working on a study of traffic safety.

At the Thursday, April 11 Lake Forest Park regular meeting the city council voted to accept the recommendation to lower speed limits from that study.

Under the proposal, all local access streets across the city would be have their speed limits reduced from 25 to 20 mile per hour.

All arterial streets and collector roads would see their speed limits lowered to 25 miles per hour from 30.

The study considered a number of options that were rejected by the city council including the “85th percentile” method which sets speeds based on how fast cars are going regardless of safety concerns. This method optimizes speed limits for the benefit of car drivers while ignoring safety for walkers and bikers and has been criticized as outdated.

A map for the Lake Forest Park speed study shows which streets
would have their speeds reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph

The option chosen by the city council treats all roadways in a city uniformly and simply sets a default speed limit across the city. This option is simpler and easier to communicate to drivers.

Under Washington State law (RCW 46.61.415) cities are allowed to set speed limits as low as 20 mph on their roads without costly traffic engineering studies.

Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Bainbridge Island have all lowered speed limits to 20 mph on local streets. The proposed changes would make Lake Forest Park’s speeds consistent with Seattle’s.

Lake Forest Park does not have jurisdiction over Ballinger Way (State Route 104) and Bothell Way (State Route 522) because they are state routes controlled by WSDOT.

Council members expressed impatience with WSDOT for not moving to reduce speed limits on those roads and discussed what options the city has to get the state agency to move faster.


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BEWARE: NE 185th from 5th to 8th NE across the freeway may be closed on Monday

Sunday, April 14, 2024

NE 185th overpass on Saturday, April 13, 2024 showing the current traffic revisions.
Photo by Carl Dinse

By Diane Hettrick

Do you read the classified notices in The Seattle Times? I don't.

Fortunately, I have readers who do and who sent me this notice of a two week closure of NE 185th from 5th to 8th NE (at the 185th Transit Center) - starting Monday

Published in The Seattle Times classified section Saturday, April 13, 2024
Text transcribed below

No one seems to know about it except the staffer who published the notice. My primary contact at Sound Transit wasn't aware of any closure notices. The City of Shoreline didn't publish any notices - and they just recently published information about other projects and closures.

Since it's a 24 hour line, I called the phone number in the notice and talked to a nice lady who told me that she couldn't find anything - and the calls she expects to field are complaints about bright lights and noise - not major closure announcements.

I also emailed the staffer whose name is in the notice, but he has a 9-5 M-F job and may get back to me on Monday.

As many of you know, 185th east of Aurora is a major commuter route to North City and Lake Forest Park - and soon to the Shoreline North / 185th Sound Transit Station. It is one of only three east - west roads in Shoreline, with 205th and 145th, both of which have their own construction issues.

185th has been challenging enough, with the constant road reconfigurations, but at least drivers with some patience were able to get across the freeway. A complete closure with no notice is a completely different scenario.

Text of notice:

City of Shoreline. 2 week closure of NE 185th Street for Restoration Work.
As early as Monday, April 15, but no sooner than 3 days after this posting Sound Transit will be performing a full closure NE 185th Street between 5th Ave NE and 8th Ave NE as part of the implementation of the new NE 185th Street road alignment. The work includes an updated roadway, curbs and roundabout. This closure will be in place as early as Monday, April 15 through Monday, April 29.
Pedestrian and bike access will be maintained. Local access to residences will be maintained during work. Follow posted signage for access and detours. If the work is delayed a new notice will be distributed.
Contact us:
Community Engagement:
c-jaybee.ragudo@soundtransit.org or 206-701-1469
After-hours construction: 888-298-2395


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Let's try again: How to navigate a traffic circle

Friday, April 12, 2024

Courtesy Anchorage Police Department

This graphic is compliments the Anchorage police. Apparently we are not the only ones struggling with this concept.

At least we have lane lines. In Paris, traffic ten abreast traverses the Place de l'Étoile. This traffic circle surrounds the Arc de Triomphe at the intersection of ten two-way and two one-way streets. It has no lane markings.

--Diane Hettrick


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Traffic revision 4-20-2024 for signal pole repair

Thursday, April 11, 2024


Upcoming Intersection Closure Alert - 4/20/24

Where: N 175th St and Fremont Ave N
When: April 20, 2024
Start Time: 7-8 am
Duration: 10-12 hours

The City of Shoreline discovered a deteriorating wood signal pole at the intersection of N 175th Street and Fremont Ave N, necessitating urgent repair. 

To ensure public safety, King County and City crews have announced plans to close the intersection to replace the pole on Saturday, April 20, 2024. This date coincides with the Shoreline School District spring break, aiming to mitigate some of the potential traffic impacts.

We understand the inconvenience this closure may cause, and we appreciate the public's cooperation as we address this important safety concern.


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Temporary traffic revision from 1st Ave NE to NE 155th St

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

No left turn from 1st to 155th
Photo courtesy Parkwood Neighborhood

Thanks to the Parkwood Neighborhood Association for the photo and explanation of this traffic revision.

Heads up - the city made a traffic revision at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and 155th St so that left turns are no longer allowed from 1st Ave onto 155th St. 

Please plan to use an alternate route such as Meridian Ave. This traffic revision is temporary to address higher traffic volumes from the 145th St closure. The intersection will allow left turns again after the closure is over.


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Daytime closure of HOV lane on ramp from NE 145th to I-5 next week for landscaping

Friday, April 5, 2024

As early as Monday, April 8, Sound Transit will close the right lane/HOV lane of the northbound I-5 on-ramp from NE 145th St for landscaping. 

This work is part of the Lynnwood Link Extension.

If there are work delays, additional closures will be scheduled. 

Some bus routes may be affected. Please check the King County Metro website for details.

Monday, April 8, through Friday, April 12, from 9am to 2:30pm.


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Shoreline council members question tree removals; city says an earthquake could cause 175th to “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog

By Oliver Moffat

At the April 1, 2024 meeting, some Shoreline city council members raised concerns about tree removals for the 175th Corridor Project. City staff told the council that 175th could “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog during an earthquake. To make the road safer, the city must rebuild the roadway which will require tree removals.

Councilmember Annette Ademasu asked staff for more details about tree removals planned for the 175th project especially at Ronald Bog Park

Councilmember Annette Ademasu raised a 175th corridor project agenda item up for discussion at this week’s council meeting. She questioned the proposed removal of 213 significant trees to make way for the road project. “At Ronald Bog there are three large conifers and a Japanese cherry. Is there anyway to save those at Ronald Bog?” she asked.

In response to questions, Public Works Director, Tricia Juhnke said, “In an earthquake, 175th would most likely slip and slide and fall into the bog. 175th is identified as one of our top emergency corridors for connection throughout the city.” 
Making the road safer requires regrading the roadway and building walls on each side to contain the new substrate. “It is also a reason we were able to get an $8 million grant from FEMA to improve the infrastructure,” Juhnke added.

Councilmember John Ramsdell raised concerns about transparency and asked why the 175th arborist report had not been published earlier

Councilmember John Ramsdell said, “I’m concerned about the lack of transparency and communication with the community. I was really hoping to see more transparency. What concerned me is that the arborist report wasn’t done until October.”

City staff reiterated a promise made in September of 2023 to provide more transparency on tree impacts and said the city is still “playing catch up” on projects that have been in the planning phase for many years.

Cross section of preferred concept from Meridian Avenue N to I-5 (facing east)

In recognizing that the 175th project has been in planning since before the city recently reprioritized in favor of increased tree preservation, Mayor Chris Roberts said, “as nimble as Shoreline is we are still a relatively large ship and we can’t turn on a dime”

On Monday April 15, the city council will hold a public hearing and discuss Shoreline’s Transportation Improvement Plan. The plan, which serves as a six-year roadmap for transportation projects in the city, is updated each year.


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40th Avenue NE road closure on April 8 for construction activity

The section to be closed is marked in red.

A day-long closure of a portion of 40th Avenue NE in Lake Forest Park is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024.

From 8:00am to approximately 3:30pm, the portion of 40th Avenue NE between Ballinger Way NE and NE 182nd Street will be closed for construction activity. No through traffic will be allowed during this time.

Local access will be provided from the NE 182nd Street side of the closure. The road will be reopened by approximately 3:30pm.

If there are to be additional closures on 40th Ave the following day, a new notification will be issued.


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Shoreline Police: How to travel a roundabout

Thursday, April 4, 2024


Look LEFT, TURN RIGHT…..

Shoreline has new roundabouts and more to come!

Here is a refresher on how to safely drive around a traffic circle.
  1. Traffic always moves in a counterclockwise direction around the center island
  2. Always yield to pedestrians
  3. Slow down as you approach the traffic circle and yield to traffic already in there.
  4. Once in the circle, it is highly suggested to activate your right turn signal indicator before your desired exit. Keep your indicator on until you have completely exited the circle.
Don’t forget, LOOK LEFT…..TURN RIGHT!

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REMINDER! The seven-month closure of NE 145th Street between the southbound Interstate 5 ramps and 1st Avenue NE will begin Monday night, April 1

Sunday, March 31, 2024


Over the seven-month closure, the N 145th Street overpass will be reduced to one lane in each direction between the I-5 on- and-off ramps and 5th Avenue NE to maintain access to the interchange. 

The on- and off-ramps will remain open and be accessible from the east side of I-5 throughout construction.

Detour route

Travelers wanting to head east and west between 1st Avenue NE and I-5 will need to detour and use N 155th Street or N 130th Street. Bicyclists and pedestrians will take a detour along N 147th Street. 

Northbound and southbound travel on Meridian Avenue N, 1st Avenue NE, and 15th Avenue NE will not be affected by these projects. 

Detour signage will be posted to inform travelers of alternative routes. 

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Crashes rise while trees come down as construction starts on 145th

Saturday, March 30, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

On Sunday, January 7, 2024 Shoreline resident and college student Khondakar Hossain was riding his scooter eastbound along 145th street when he was hit by a vehicle near the Sunnyside intersection.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and has not been caught by police. Hossain is recovering from his injuries.

Data from the WSDOT crash data portal shows annual fatal and serious injury crashes in Shoreline
So far in 2024, Shoreline Area News has reported on three crashes along 145th street: a collision involving a pedestrian, a multi-vehicle crash and the hit-and-run involving Hossain.

As reported on KUOW and The Seattle Times, 2023 was the deadliest year for traffic fatalities in Washington State since 1990.

A map from the WSDOT collision data portal shows the locations of ten years of crashes along 145th and nearby roads
The statistics are grim for crashes that kill or leave people with life altering injuries in Shoreline.

According to data collected from WSDOT, for the five years before 2019, the city had 54 fatal and serious injury crashes. But that rate jumped starting in 2019. For the five years before 2024, there were 96 serious injury and deadly crashes in Shoreline - a 78% increase.

Activists gather along 145th street on Sunday to protest the removal of trees to build a multi-use path for pedestrians accessing the nearby light rail station. Photo by Oliver Moffat
On Sunday, March 24, activists with Tree Action Seattle and Save Shoreline Trees gathered near the site of the hit-and-run that left Hossain injured in 145th street.

With construction equipment parked nearby, the activists gathered to call attention to the loss of 317 trees that will be removed to make way for improvements the city says will make 145th street safer.

Kathleen Russel from Save Shoreline Trees acknowledge the group may be too late to stop tree removals of the first phase of construction, but she said, the group will be seeking to “put a pause on the next segments” to try and save additional trees. She said the group does not oppose sidewalks but would like the city to build around the trees.

The city acknowledges that the project will have significant tree impacts. But says, “We are balancing these impacts with our need to address the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Shoreline – transportation. This project helps further our goal of creating dense, walkable communities around transit.”
The city plans to replace the removed trees with 864 new trees.

An overgrown laurel hedge and a utility pole blocks the sidewalk of 145th street. Photo by Oliver Moffat

With the light-rail station opening at 145th street this year, the city expects increased pedestrian and cyclist traffic. To make the roadway safer for all users, the 145th project will add a wider sidewalk and roundabouts.

According to multiple sources including the city, WSDOT, AARP, and the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts reduce traffic jams, are better for the environment, cost less over the long run and are safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

A map from the city’s website shows the roundabouts coming to I-5 and 145th

Construction of phase one between I-5 to Corliss begins on April 1; information on the road closure is available on the city’s website.

The city of Shoreline will be hosting a public presentation on the 145th Corridor Project on Wednesday April 3 from 7pm to 8:30pm

The 145th project team will discuss the construction schedule, roundabouts, and benefits of the project. Residents can attend in person at city hall or join online. The presentation is part of Shoreline’s monthly CityLearn program which gives residents an opportunity to learn about, ask questions and discuss important local topics with city staff and council members.

On Monday April 15, the city council will hold a public hearing and discuss Shoreline’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The city updates the TIP each year serves as a six-year roadmap for transportation projects in the city.


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Shoreline seeks input on future of transportation

Monday, March 25, 2024

An image from survey shows a mockup of what the mobility hub at 185th and Aurora might look like

The city of Shoreline is looking for public input on the future of transportation in Shoreline.

The city posted a survey titled “Shoreline's Transportation Future: Walk Ride Roll!” which seeks input on car-free and electric transportation in Shoreline.

A map from the survey shows possible locations of shared use mobility hubs being considered by the city of Shoreline

The survey includes information on the city’s plan to pilot scooter and bike share programs this summer and also includes concepts for public spaces that support car-free and electric transportation called “Shared-Use Mobility Hubs”. It also asks for input on electric vehicle charging and car sharing.

The survey comes ahead of a Monday April 15, 2024 public hearing on the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The city updates this plan each year and serves as the six-year roadmap for what transportation projects Shoreline will fund (and not fund).

--Oliver Moffat


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Collision at 145th and Aurora blocks traffic for an hour

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Photo courtesy SDOT

A collision at the busy intersection of N 145th and Aurora Ave N, on the Seattle side, blocked traffic for an hour on Monday afternoon around 2pm.

No report of injuries.


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Construction begins for roundabout at 145th and I-5: look for seven month road closure and removal of significant number of trees

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Map of 145th road closure

Expect delays near N 145th Street (State Route 523) and I-5: Seven-month closure of N 145th Street begins April 1

SHORELINE – Travelers who use N 145th Street near Interstate 5 in Shoreline should plan for additional travel time beginning Monday, April 1, 2024. 

Contractor crews working for the City of Shoreline and its partners will implement a seven-month closure of N 145th St (SR 523) between 1st Ave NE and I-5. 

The I-5 interchange will remain open throughout construction; however, the traffic on the overpass will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

The closure allows construction crews to install, build and/or relocate critical utility infrastructure to accommodate construction of the new roundabouts. This section of the street will remain closed until fall 2024. 

The closure is part of the City of Shoreline’s 145th Street Corridor and 145th Street and I-5 Interchange projects.

Getting around the closure

Plan ahead for detours! This closure will have a significant effect on traffic flow and access in the area. Southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps will be open, but only accessible from the east side of the closure. We expect some occasional overnight closures of these ramps, but they will mostly remain open.

Travelers wanting to head east and west between 1st Ave N and I-5 will need to detour and use N 155th St or N 130th St. 

Bicyclists and pedestrians will use a detour along N 147th St. 

Detour signage will be in place during the closure, and we will continue to coordinate work with our transit partners, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Seattle Department of Transportation. 

Questions and Concerns

If you have questions or concerns about construction or the project, you can call the 24-hour construction hotline or send an email.
Tree removal

We have designed these projects to affect as few trees as possible. However, the project involves widening the footprint of 145th St, which will require the removal of a significant number of trees. This removal will begin around April 1, 2024.

We will plant new trees once the project is complete. We will plant trees in medians and along sidewalks to expand the square footage of the total tree canopy in the area. This aligns with the City’s goals for the corridor and the recommendations found in our Urban Tree Canopy Assessment. By planting medians or along sidewalks, the City can grow the tree canopy in an area that otherwise would be bare.

Removing trees is a balance between short-term effects and the long-term benefits of a more sustainable transportation system. By carefully selecting which trees to remove and planting new trees at a high rate, we can build toward the future in a responsible way.


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145th ramps to northbound I-5 closed overnight Thursday March 14, 2024

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

On Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 11pm to 5am, Sound Transit will close the northbound I-5 on-ramp from NE 145th St and the northbound I-5 right lane from NE 145th St to NE 155th St for barrier removal. 

This work is part of the Lynnwood Link Extension.
  • Northbound I-5 on-ramp from NE 145th St and northbound I-5 right lane between NE 145th St and NE 155th St will be closed. Detour route is in place for drivers (see map).
  • Crews will work at night to minimize effects on traffic.
  • Residents should expect construction noise from equipment such as an excavator, trucks and trailers, and various hand tools.
  • If there are work delays, we will schedule additional closures.
  • Some bus routes may be affected. Please check the King County Metro website for details. 

Read more...
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