Construction on new 15th Ave NW median starting soon

Meghan Walker Ballard

There’s a new landscaped median coming to 15th Ave NW, and crews will begin construction in March.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) says the new median will be on 15th between NW 50th St and NW 54th St. They say it will help slow down traffic and “make it easier to walk, roll, or bike around the neighborhood.”

Here’s the design for the pedestrian crossing at 15th Ave NW and NW 51st St:

SDOT says the new median will replace the eastern southbound lane on 15th Ave NW between NW 50th St and NW 54th St. They’ll plant shrubs and trees to “add to the urban tree canopy along this busy arterial.”

SDOT will maintain two northbound lanes for general purpose with one bus lane, and will reduce the southbound lanes from three to two between NW 54th and 51st Streets. The transportation department says the southbound lanes will align with the lane configuration north of 57th to Crown Hill and on the Ballard Bridge.

Work continues north of the Ballard Bridge on 15th Ave NW between NW 51st St and NW Ballard Way, and crews are continuing seismic retrofit work on the Leary Way Bridge.   

Crews are also continuing with work along 15th Ave NW between NW 51st St and NW Ballard Way. The construction will upgrade ADA accessible ramps, rebuild sidewalk corners, install upgraded traffic signals and cameras, improve storm drainage, and repair the sidewalk and roadway in select areas. At NW 51st St, crews continue electrical and signal lighting work for the new pedestrian and bicycle crossing.  

Crews are also continuing work to strengthen and improve earthquake safety on the Leary Way Bridge. SDOT says there will be partial sidewalk and lane closures related to this work. Driving lanes between NW 50th St and Ballard Way NW will continue to be restricted to demolish and build new concrete roadway panels. 

What to expect (from SDOT):

  • Construction is typically scheduled Mondays – Fridays from 7 AM – 5 PM.
  • We will close driving lanes on 15th Ave NW near work areas and on NW Leary Way beneath and near the bridge. There will always be at least one lane open in each direction.   
  • We will close the sidewalk in work areas. There will be detour signs in place to direct you around construction.    
  • We will close streets to thru traffic as needed between 17th Ave NW and 14th Ave NW. You will still be able to walk, roll, bike, or drive to businesses and homes on these streets.    
  • Bus stops for the D line at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St are now open and will operate as normal. Bus stops for the D Line, Route 17, and Route 40 at 15th Ave NW and NW Leary Way may be temporarily moved. Please see signs at bus stops for new locations and/or sign up for transit alerts.   
  • We will temporarily change parking in some areas for construction staging and traffic control near work sites. 

The ongoing work is part of the  15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project.