UPDATE: Last week SDOT announced that a paving project at the intersection of N 80th Street and Greenwood Avenue North would begin this weekend. The work this weekend now has been cancelled due to a forecast of unfavorable weather. Please watch for another announcement next week for a project update.

Construction starts this week on two north Seattle paving projects

This week the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin work to repair two heavily-traveled north Seattle roadways that have deteriorated over time: N/NW 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue N. This work includes new pavement, upgraded curb ramps, rehabilitated sidewalks, and other improvements along a two-mile stretch of N/NW 85th Street between 15th Avenue NW and Interstate 5, and also on Greenwood Avenue N from N 85th Street to N 73rd Street.

While major impacts for drivers will not start until January 2012 when eastbound detours on N/NW 85th Street begin, some initial work this fall will have impacts to drivers, neighbors and businesses in some areas.

The intersection of N 80th Street and Greenwood Avenue N will be rebuilt in concrete pavement beginning the week of October 17 and continue for approximately four weeks. This work will require two full closures of the intersections on the weekends of October 21-24 and October 28-31.

This intersection work will take place on both weekdays and weekends and includes:

Weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

o The intersection will be reduced to one lane in each direction
o Drivers should plan ahead and adjust their routes accordingly as traffic congestion is expected

Weekend intersection closures begin at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through 5 a.m. Monday for the weekends of October 21-24 and October 28-31 (weather permitting).

o The closure extends on Greenwood Avenue N between N 79th Street and N 81st Street and on N 80th Street between Dayton Avenue N and First Avenue NW
o Drivers should follow signed detours utilizing N 65th Street, 3rd Avenue NW and N 85th Street

Metro Transit riders can expect weekend transit detours and stop closures; to sign up for transit alerts, sign up here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts . Pedestrian access to residences and businesses will be maintained at all times. There may be temporary sidewalk and driveway closures, noise, dust, and nighttime light impacts.

The end result will be a new concrete intersection complete with new curb ramps, sidewalks and textured crosswalks.

The project is funded by the Bridging the Gap tax levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006.

To sign up for regular construction email updates, send an email to pave_85th@seattle.gov.

For more information, contact the 24-hour project line at (206) 496-9993, email pave_85th@seattle.gov, or visit http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm.