This is great news for improving Northgate Way! I’m particularly excited about improving the intersection with 5th Ave NE.
For Immediate Release
November 19, 2010
Contact: Rick Sheridan, 206-684-8540
City’s Northgate Project Awarded $4.5 Million Grant
Funds will improve Northgate area roadways and help resolve traffic issues
SEATTLE – The City of Seattle’s Northgate improvement project today was awarded a $4.5 million state grant to help address traffic issues on this key corridor. Authorized by the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board through its Urban Arterial Program, the funds will enable the City to relieve congestion, enhance safety and improve roadway conditions. Combined with $4.65 million from the Bridging the Gap transportation levy, the grant dollars fully fund Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) work scheduled to be designed next year and completed by the end of 2013.
“These improvements will make it easier for people to get around and to the Northgate neighborhood by improving our streets for those who use them,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “SDOT did a great job pursuing this grant and I thank the Transportation Improvement Board for choosing to support this project.”
When combined with Bridging the Gap levy funds, these grant funds will support:
- Widening the intersection of NE Northgate Way and Fifth Ave NE to accommodate an additional westbound to southbound left turn lane;
- Enhancing the intersection of NE Northgate Way and Fifth Ave NE with a new sidewalk, curb ramps and decorative crosswalks;
- Extending the right-turn lane on Fifth Ave NE at NE Northgate Way for northbound traffic turning east;
- Reconstructing 1.4 miles of pavement on N 105th St/N Northgate Way from Greenwood Ave N to First Ave NE;
- Building on NE Northgate Way two landscaped medians between Meridian Ave N and I-5, and one west of Fifth Ave NE;
- Upgrading 12 signalized intersections along the corridor with new controller cabinets and pedestrian countdown signals;
- Adding dynamic message signs, roadway cameras, vehicle detection and travel time readers, and linking them to SDOT’s Traffic Management Center; and
- Installing new wayfinding signage to I-5.
These enhancements address long standing concerns highlighted by the Northgate Stakeholders Group, a broad coalition of community interests, as expressed in the Northgate Coordinated Transportation Investment Plan. The intersection of NE Northgate Way and Fifth Ave NE has significant traffic congestion during peak periods due to the high volume of westbound vehicles turning left to go south. Queuing from this traffic regularly blocks driveways and through traffic, delaying significant numbers of buses and trucks, and prevents easy access to retail establishments throughout the Northgate area.
The grant allows the city to continue its improvement work along this critical corridor. In 2010 SDOT enhanced safety and created a more pedestrian-friendly street on Fifth Ave NE by adding stamped concrete crosswalks along three sides of the intersection of Fifth Ave NE and NE 112th St, a landscaped median, and new sidewalk and curbing along the road adjacent to the new Urban Center Park.
Rick Sheridan
Communications Manager, Seattle Department of Transportation
ph: 206.684.8540, cell: 206.396.3053, fax: 206.684.3238
richard.sheridan@seattle.gov
SDOT Web page: http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation
Blog: http://sdotblog.seattle.gov
Twitter: http://twitter.com/seattledot
We who live on 24th Ave. N.E. that intersects with Northgate Way have repeatedly ask for assistance with vehicles that turn up onto our street, that is marked do not enter. This endangers those of us who live on this section of 24th Ave. NE. We would like to have that intersection closed.
Great! More crap to send even more traffic to endanger the children and deaf people walking on NE 115th St without sidewalks. Even more cars, even more speeders! Maybe now someone will get hit and the city will act to protect it’s citizens. (at least that’s what two city officials have told me)
Dan, which change do you think will increase traffic on 115th? Are you just referring to the construction period? I think improving the intersection of Northgate and 5th will cause fewer people to use 115th as a shortcut.
I feel you Dan. The City finds money for street improvements but not sidewalks. During construction 115th will get hammered. Traffic studies ( see Northgate Comprehensive Plan) has shown increasing street capacity will only generate MORE cars. The interestion of 5th and Northgate Way will soon fail again and we are worse off than before.
I do not see anything listed in the story above that will help with the traffic on northgate way. If any of you readers buy what their saying you are fooling your self ! A fly over,or a tunnel will help the most with south bound traffic, and get rid of the left hand turn lane on to 3rd, and the left hand turn lane into the mall, and make 3rd ave into 3lanes Forget the dumb side walks. It would also help if the city could adress some of the traffic problem on 112.