City of Seattle, WA
12/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/03/2024 19:33
Building a Bike Friendly Waterfront Connecting to Downtown Destinations
Seattle's central waterfront, looking northeast. Photo courtesy of WSDOT
Blog stats: 750 words | 4-minute read
Read our blog post about the central waterfront bike lane construction progress.
At-a-glance:
- Transforming Seattle's waterfront continues thanks to public and private partnerships.
- A bike-friendly network: We're making strides in creating a delightful experience for biking along the waterfront and along Pike and Pine.
- Construction alert: Next up, SDOT is filling another gap with the Alaskan Way Safety Project. Construction on this project begins in early December and will last until next summer. Bike facilities being constructed along the central and south end of the waterfront will start opening in phases until complete in early 2025.
Traveling along the central waterfront and beyond - what's ahead
Strides are being made to create a delightful experience for biking along the Waterfront. It continues to evolve into a welcoming corridor for walking, biking, and rolling to Downtown destinations, with great connections to Pioneer Square, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. And of course, ultimately the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup events.
Center City Bike Network Map
[Link]Map of Seattle's Center City Bike Network, including the central waterfront. Graphic: SDOTWaterfront Seattle continues to build the new park promenade and bike path on the portion of Alaskan Way south of Virginia St. The work is being completed in phases, with the bike lanes opening in 2025 and the entire 20-acre Waterfront Park following shortly after.
On the northern portion of the waterfront, SDOT is starting construction of the Alaskan Way Safety Project this month. This project will fill a gap in our bike lane network along the western side of Alaskan Way from Virginia St to Broad St. In addition to building a protected bike lane, we're adding an improved traffic signal at Blanchard St, intersection safety improvements, sidewalk repairs, and ADA-accessible curb ramps. Sign up for email updates to understand how to navigate the new construction north of Virginia St and follow the progress.
Nearby, the Elliott Bay Connections project will create a new, protected greenway trail on the east side of Alaskan Way, from Virginia to Broad St for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, and roll. The project will also repair and enhance pedestrian and bike trails in Myrtle Ewards and Centennial parks. The new greenway trail will replace an obsolete trolley track on the east side of Alaskan Way, complementing the Alaskan Way Safety Project's improvements on the west side of Alaskan Way. Construction of the greenway trail is planned to begin in early 2025 and be completed in summer 2026, ahead of Seattle hosting the FIFA Men's World Cup. Visit the Elliott Bay Connections website to learn more and sign up for email updates to stay informed during construction.
These projects continue the transformation of Seattle's waterfront into a world-class destination and ensure there's plenty of space for people to travel, socialize, shop, and appreciate the cultural and environmental amenities of our waterfront.
[Link]People visiting the waterfront can already enjoy the bike lane between S King St and Yesler Way, which opened in 2021.Pine-Pine Streetscape and Bike Improvement construction wraps for the year and improvements on Bell St begin in 2025
The Pike-Pine Streetscape and Bicycle Improvements Project, which makes it easier to walk, bike, and roll between Capitol Hill, Pike Place Market, South Lake Union, and Seattle's new waterfront, has completed a substantial amount of construction in 2024.
The Pike-Pine corridor now features more than a mile of new or improved protected bike lanes from 2nd Ave to Bellevue and Melrose avenues. It includes features that make crosswalks easier to see, sidewalks wider, and adds more greenery and places to sit - something important for our elders and others who might need a place to pause while out and about.
Downtown construction pauses every year during the holiday season (unless there is an emergency). When we return next year, we'll install new railings with integrated lighting on the Pike and Pine bridges over I-5, new planter boxes with native landscaping, and begin enhancements to connect the Bell St Parkway to the Waterfront.
[Link]The new Pike St and 2nd Ave intersection, looking west. [Link]The expanded sidewalk and protected bike lane on Pine St, looking west.