Safety island installation to block northbound traffic outside post office

SDOT crews began work this morning to install a safety island at the northeast corner of 17th Ave NW and NW 57th St in front of the Ballard post office.

The installation of this safety island will close 17th Ave NW between NW 57th and NW 58th streets to northbound traffic both during construction and permanently. The block will remain open to southbound traffic during and after construction. Construction is expected to last between 2-3 days.

Check out the diagram of the changes below:

“We apologize for the short notice of this construction. With the onset of the rainy season, our contractor sometimes needs to shift its schedule to do work that can be done when it’s raining, such as demolition and site preparation,” says CJ Holt, project manager.

Holt confirms that the installation of the safety island and the restriction of the northbound through traffic (for one block of 17th Ave NW between NW 57th and NW 58th streets) will not only reduce cut-through traffic on the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway, but will also improve safety and preserve the residential character of the neighborhood.

The change outside Ballard Post Office will be similar to the changes that were implemented with the NW 58th St Greenway at the intersection of NW 58th St and 15th Ave NW near St. Alphonsus School.

Once complete, the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway will connect Soundview Playfield at NW 90th St to Salmon Bay using 17th Ave NW until it turns onto NW Dock Pl and ends at Ballard Ave NW. Check out the map below with the planned changes:

Locals who have questions or feedback about the changes can contact the project team at (206) 684-4747 or by emailing BallardGreenway@seattle.gov. Click here to sign up for future project email updates.